Tinted Foundation Stick Review: A Hit or a Miss?

I love a good stick foundation. A couple of swipes, a quick blend with a sponge, add some blush and eyeshadow, and I'm ready to go. When it comes to wearing makeup, I'm pretty low maintenance.

One of the things I've learned in my 50 years of wearing makeup is that "Your Mileage May Vary."

I'd heard some great reviews about the Tinted Foundation Stick and was eager to give it a try.

I have Vitiligo, so I'm particularly cautious about foundations that contain SPF. For whatever reason, I've found that products with SPF tend to make my skin more sensitive to the sun rather than less. Go figure.

A salesperson at Ulta color-matched me, and I purchased shade 19 – Light Neutral Undertone.

First Impressions

The first thing I've noticed each time I've used the Tinted stick is how beautifully it glides on. And the coverage? Honestly, it's really nice.

I'm not sure what level of coverage the brand advertises, but I would definitely consider it full coverage.

However, there's a downside to all that lovely glide.

It's uber greasy.

And I have normal skin, not dry skin.

In fact, I couldn't even apply my regular Ilia Multi-Stick Blush and Lip Tint.

It simply wouldn't pick up or hold the color. It was crazy! I kept trying to apply my blush, and it was like the color just wanted to slide right off.

For me, the whole appeal of a foundation stick is the ease of application. Swipe, blend, and go.

I suppose applying powder or a setting spray might help keep everything in place, but that sort of defeats the purpose for me.

I'm 63. I haven't had needles or cosmetic work done, so I have what I'd call average lines on my face. Nothing too dramatic in the crow's-feet department, but they're definitely there.

I also don't generally apply powder after foundation because, on my skin, that's a total bust.

While the foundation initially feels nice on my skin, it also feels surprisingly heavy.

And Then There's the Packaging...

Here's something a little funky about this foundation.

To twist up more product, you actually turn the part of the tube where the foundation sits. You don't twist the bottom like you do with most foundation sticks.

Who thought that was a good idea?

A couple of times, I've put the cap back on without remembering to twist the foundation down first and ended up smashing the product into the cap.

Oops.

That's on me, but I still find the design awkward and completely unintuitive.

And even when I remember how it works, I somehow manage to get foundation all over my hands.

Compared to traditional twist-up foundation sticks, this packaging is a definite Miss for me.

The Verdict: It's a Miss

I've worn this foundation several times now because I really wanted to give it a fair chance.

And there are things I genuinely like about it. The coverage is beautiful, it glides on effortlessly, and the initial feel is lovely.

But the greasy finish, the heaviness, the trouble applying my blush, and that awkward packaging are just too many drawbacks for me.

At 63, I'm not interested in adding more steps to my makeup routine just to make a foundation behave.

I want something that works with my skin, not something I have to work around.

So, unfortunately, this one is a Miss for me.

But remember what I said at the beginning?

Your Mileage May Vary.

If you have drier skin or prefer a richer, more emollient foundation, you may absolutely love it.

As for me, I'm moving on to the next foundation stick.

The hunt continues! 😂

xx,

Lisa

Beauty Cafe — Serving up a few of my favorite things since 1997.