With so many people leaning toward more simple makeup routines, foundation sticks are back on the rise. While not a new concept, it does seem that many brands are releasing them this summer, but the new essence Foundation Stick seems to be a unicorn among the sea of launches.
At just $6.99, this drugstore foundation stick has an impressive 43 shades in a vegan, cruelty free and oil free formula. The official claims are multi-use versatility, with a creamy and easy to blend formula in a soft matte finish. Beyond that, there aren’t any promises in terms of wear time or performance… so you know I had to put it to the test!
Wearing shade 120
The essence Foundation Stick is ultra creamy while still feeling lightweight. It glides onto the skin without tugging and blends out smoothly with a brush. The coverage looks natural, though it does max out at medium. It will help even out your complexion, though very dark spots may still show through. For me, this is definitely enough coverage for everyday, casual wear. I rarely go for full coverage anymore, besides for special events, but this definitely gives me enough of an even base to support a light makeup look.
Shade 120
One thing I wasn’t a fan of: the fragrance. This does have added fragrance with a sort of floral vibe. Especially as someone with sensitive skin, I do try to steer away from using too many fragranced products. It’s not something you can smell as you wear it, but I get a waft of it when I open the foundation stick cap.
Despite the brand calling this a “soft matte” finish, I have to wholeheartedly disagree. To be fair, I do have combo skin with an oily T-Zone (forehead, nose, and chin). However, I did feel like it started out looking pretty radiant, even when using a mattifying primer.
Left side: Powder + Setting Spray / Right side: Only Setting Spray
I tested the essence foundation stick two different ways: one side with powder + setting spray, and the other side just with setting spray. On both sides, the coverage stayed pretty much exactly the same after 11 hours as when first applied. On the side I powdered, I didn’t experience any creasing in my expression lines, but on the un-powdered side, I only saw very slight signs— much less than many of my favorite liquid foundations!
However, I did get shiny on both sides— even through the mattifying primer and powder. I also felt like powdering the foundation ended up accentuating some texture around my acne scars.
Those with oily skin that don’t like looking oily will probably have a hard time with this one. With that said, I feel like this is a very solid choice when it comes to a stick foundation, especially for the price. You’re actually getting 10 grams of product, which is more than most new drugstore foundation sticks, and an incredible value. I feel that this one would work best for normal skin, and combo if you don’t mind a little shine.
You can find the essence Foundation Stick at Ulta Beauty.
– Miranda
