foundation overview #14: Burberry Sheer Foundation.

the Burberry Sheer Foundation is another foundation i have tested over the last month - when the make up range was released, it didn't really attract me at a time i was all about long lasting and high coverage.
but the skin and lifestyle needs and perception have changed, and when i stumbled over another of the many praising reviews for this, i went and ordered it in Burberry's excellent online store.
they offer free delivery (which normally would be charged with 20€) for quite a while now - but i don't know for how long to come...
the shipping still is extraordinary fast, i received my order from the UK base within 3 days. packaging as always lovely and classy.

the foundation costs 43€ for 30ml.
it comes in a acrylic square bottle with a chic and unusually long cap, which is of the same pewter-metallic quality like Burberry's other compacts and also has the signature Nova Check pattern engraved. the foundation pump works precisely and this time i find they have done a good job with the packaging design, sophisticated minimalism, although the haptic experience may not be as nice due to the exact edges.
ok, enough ramble from a packaging pedant. on to the product.

here what it claims to do:

• "Burberry Luminous Fluid Foundation gives the skin a natural fresh radiance
• The lightweight formula allows optimum light diffusion for a naturally luminous complexion
• Fluid foundation that hydrates the skin whilst providing long lasting coverage

there is a telephone- or online-chat-consultation available where you can even send in a photo and get tele-matched. they offer 9 shades (Trench No. 01-09 - i like this numbering system).
i have bought the shade Trench No. 04, by visual judgement and untested (yes i know, but no risk no fun ;) ).
i was a bit disappointed when it arrived and i first swatched it - it seemed very light, too light for my skintone at the moment (leaning towards NC25 in MAC). it's probably a light NC20 or even a bit lighter when i just dab it on my skin.
fortunately this foundation spreads really easily and looks so natural, it looks exactly like a beautiful version of my skin without make up on. the colour blends in seamlessly and adapts to my skintone, making it only a tad bit lighter but not paler. i think it will be the perfect shade for winter times.

the consistency is rather thick and creamy and it has a pleasant but intense powdery perfume scent. i've applied it with the BeautyBlender, various brushes and with my fingers and got the same even and flawless result with both the sponges and the fluffy brushes - i remain a fan of clean fingers, though. although it's so creamy it blends surprisingly well and doesn't feel thick or greasy, however i still feel that i wear foundation. it dries to a soft, slightly creamy finish that i still like to set with powder at least on the t-zone.

it gives a light to medium coverage, but concealing all my redness and imperfections is rather achieved by how the pigments diffuse the light than how they are opaque - there still is a hint of redness peeking through my cheeks, but i don't mind that. you can build it up without it getting cakey, but it will not become high coverage.
it makes my skin appear naturally healthy without taking the dimension from it. it doesn't settle into my pores but also doesn't make them look more refined, the evenness of my skin tone just makes them less noticeable.

it wears ok on my oily skin. i start to get greasy after about 7 hours if i don't set it with powder, after that it starts to melt and fades about at the 9 hour mark.
overall this is a weird foundation to me, the finish is so lovely and flawless but it still doesn't feel completely right yet. i like it better with every time i wear it. i guess this would be a fabulous foundation for normal or dry skin types.

one drop of: Burberry Sheer Foundation in Trench No. 04 - MAC Pro Longwear in NC20

it looks really light against my skin

Burberry Sheer Foundation in Trench No. 04 right after application

Burberry Sheer Foundation in Trench No.04  10 minutes after application

tihilw

only with foundation on. isn't the finish lovely?

ingredients: AQUA (WATER) - CYCLOHEXASILOXANE - PROPYLENE GLYCOL - ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE - POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE - SQUALANE - BEHENETH-30 - MYRISTYL ALCOHOL - PHENYL TRIMETHICONE - GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE - GLYCERYL STEARATE - PHENOXYETHANOL - POLYACRYLAMIDE - CARBOMER - METHYLPARABEN - PROPYLPARABEN - CYCLOPENTASILOXANE - C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN - SODIUM HYDROXIDE - PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) - BUTYLENE GLYCOL - ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE - LAURETH-7 - XANTHAN GUM - TOCOPHEROL - BENZYL BENZOATE - HYDROXYCITRONELLAL - ASCORBYL PALMITATE - BHT - ROSA ROXBURGHII FRUIT EXTRACT - [ /- (MAY CONTAIN) : CI 77019 (MICA) - CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) - CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) - CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES)]