I was a huge fan of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (in short their HD Foundation). I had it in my professional makeup kit. I could make it work over all skin types and the color selection was perfect with somewhat warmish neutral tones. So obviously I was very disappointed to see it get discontinued and replaced with HD Skin foundation. At first try I hated it, but then I gave it a fair chance to try several times and here are my thoughts.
Packaging
It comes in glass bottle with nude cap and black plastic pump. One pump is small, so you don't waste too much product. It's quite bulky packaging.
In it is 30 ml of product and it costs 42€.
Formula
Texture is thicker for a liquid foundation, it doesn't run. You need at least three pumps to cover the whole face, because the pumps are small. It gives you good medium coverage that is buildable to full coverage. Sponge will give you lighter coverage, while brush will give you more coverage. It works with either. It will cover uneven skin tone, redness.
I find it sets fairly quick, but it's still a little tacky and transfers a bit. But it almost forms like a film on your skin that doesn't move. Finish is fairly natural semi-matte, not completely matte. There is some sheen to it.
Colors
It comes in 40 shades with red, neutral and yellow undertones. Don't trust their conversion of shades from previous HD Foundation, because they don't match. I first ordered shade 2N26 which was supposed to be a match for their previous Y225 and it's not. It's a lot darker and way more yellow. So then I ordered 1N10 based on online swatches (which are impossible to find these days) and that one is a fairly good match.
1N10 is warm yellow toned light shade, definitely not neutral as you would think from the name. Also, fair warning, even though they say the shades don't oxidize, they do. Wait a few second once you try it to see the color dry down, because it gets darker. However, I find that once it dries down it almost becomes a bit more warm olive.
Comparison
Revlon Colorstay Combination/Oily 150 Buff - one of the lightest shades with a great olive undertone
MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC13 - light, but darker than Revlon with warm yellow tone
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk 4 - a bit darker than MAC and slightly more peachy yellow toned
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear 125W - darker light with again more peachy yellow undertone
Make Up For Ever HD Skin 1N10 - also darker light shade with yellow warm undertone
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Fiji - another pretty yellow warm toned foundation
L'Oreal Infaillible 32H Fresh Wear 100 Linen - very similar to Nars, again yellow warm
L'Oreal True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum 0.5-2 Very Light - the second lightest shade, but this one has more of a pink neutral undertone
Performance
It looks fairly well over pores, doesn't sit in them, but also doesn't make them blur. I never use primer with new foundations that I am testing. It will catch on any dry texture that you may have. I had some texture around my nose and it emphasized it, but you can't see it in photos, because I had fairly good skin here. It also sits just a bit in the fine lines.
It looks even toned for sure, no cracks and patches like they say. However, if you have oily skin it can look shiny quick and break apart over time. But in all honesty nothing can help with oils breaking down foundation no matter what foundation you use.
It's long lasting, sweat-proof as well as waterproof. I always set my foundations with powder and I did that with this one too.
I can't see it working for very dry skin with dry texture, because it will emphasize everything and look way too matte.
I have to say the previous HD Foundation from Make Up For Ever was just perfect. Good medium coverage with proper natural finish. This one looks a lot heavier, even though it feels super lightweight on the skin. I wouldn't say this is HD Skin, because it can look quite obvious once you build up the coverage. Plus the shades were much more neutral and new shades just seem way too warm not neutral at all.
I just can't seem to get over their discontinued HD Foundation which was perfect all-around foundation for all skin types in my opinion. This one just looks heavier. Yes, it's budge proof and waterproof and the color actually adjusts to my skin tone fairly well, but it's just not what I expected it to be. In my opinion HD Foundation looked much more undetectable than HD Skin and the shade range was way better. They just came out with HD Skin Hydra Glow version for those with drier skin, so maybe that one would be a better match for the discontinued one.
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