526 Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer

First things first, I kind of love this foundation, I normally would never have bought it because I try not to like expensive makeup, but I have recently been treating myself to a few odd bits. I prefer to like the inexpensive items as it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to repurchase, and I strongly believe that just because something is more expensive doesn’t mean it works any better than the inexpensive ones. Typically, they are known to be luxurious but expensive doesn’t always mean better. This one was recommended to me as it was good coverage and has pale shades, so that is the main reason I thought I would try an expensive item for once. I think this is the most I have spent on one item of makeup so far, apart from an urban decay palette.

One of the things I love about this product is the packaging; just looking at it you can 100% tell it is a high-end luxury product. It is glass, not plastic so it looks expensive, it is a thin and tall bottle which is perfect for storage or travel I just like this packaging, I don’t think there is anything they could change about the packaging to make it better, well nothing that I can think of anyway. You can read the writing, you don’t struggle to hold the product, and there is no lid to lose because the lid is the applicator which you put straight back in the bottle. The best part is the applicator, it is a sofa. I mean, no clean-up is a bonus it just makes getting ready in the morning that little bit easier and quicker. I also like that there is no third-party item which will help to minimise any contamination that could happen and lessen the chance of any leaking. It isn’t going to spill on your bag, you aren’t going to waste any product as you control how much you take out, and you’re not stuck with the amount a pump gives you. Also, none of it will dry out, unless you don’t put the lid back on. If you are like me and you swap between foundations during the week then you will know that now and then one gets dried in the pump which ruins the product and prevents you from being able to use it.

I didn’t know what to expect when I applied this product for the first time, I have never used Clinique makeup before, so I didn’t have a reference or anything to base my expectation on. I was nervous and excited about using this product, well nervous is a bit strong maybe just curious. One of the first things I check when trying a new foundation (after the shade) is if there is a scent. My skin isn’t super sensitive but there are certain things it does not like. Now and then it decides it wants to be sensitive to a certain product but in general it doesn’t mind most products. As far as I can tell this foundation does not have a scent, if it does then it is very light.

I can confirm this has brilliant coverage, it isn’t super heavy, but the coverage is there, it blends well it is almost effortless. If you have used a foundation that doesn’t blend well, you will appreciate a foundation that does blend easily. The blending takes 0 times out of the application, it honestly couldn’t be any easier. So far, I haven’t needed to, but this feels as though it would be easy to build up should you have a particularly strong area of pigment on your face that the first coat doesn’t quite get. I generally just pop a bit of concealer on it, I haven’t tried to apply a second layer of the foundation.

The finish is very natural, it isn’t overly dewy, but it is also not completely matte. It is just the perfect finish for an everyday foundation. It works well for day and night which is also a bonus, a bit of a touch-up after work and you are good to go. Now, moving on to touch-ups, I honestly don’t touch up during the day because I cannot be bothered. I either forget to do the touch-ups or when I do get my makeup out to do a touch-up, I have forgotten the makeup. I have very oily skin, so I should touch it up during the day, but I rarely do. I just blot most of the time, grab a bit of tissue and dab your face, done. No getting the mirror and the powder out. I keep a powder in my bag in case something happens last minute such as going out for a business lunch or going to meet a friend after work, I like to have the chance to touch up if I want to buy most of the time it just collects dust in my bag.

When it comes to the end of the day, it doesn’t look flawless, but it also doesn’t look awful, like I said above, a quick touch-up and you’re good to go for the evening. You could tell that I had been wearing the makeup all day, for example, my t-zone looked oily, but I haven’t found a foundation that does stay on my nose. I have noticed if it is a warm day, you can see your pores a little, but they don’t stand out too much. You could get away with this for a meal or party after work and I have done it without a touch-up.

I thought this foundation was good for my skin, it didn’t look like I had foundation caked on my face. I mean you can tell I had foundation on, but it looked natural. It looked like skin; it moves with your skin which I have noticed. I am not sure how to explain it properly. With the foundations I have used, when you laugh causing your eyes to squint you can see the creases in your foundation, this one I have never noticed that.

The only downside I have found is that it did oxidise on me. If you are not sure what this means it is simple, it just means to get a shade or two darker with the oxygen in the air, so it appears dark for your skin once it has been applied. This tends to ruin the foundation for me as I struggle to find one that matches my skin as I am so pale.

Overall, I guess you could say I am on the fence with this product. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it. I like the finish, but I could do it with a shade or two lighters if I want it to be a perfect match. I am going to keep using it and then decide if I want to repurchase it. I have a feeling I am going to, but I am not 100% sure.