Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (new formula / reformulated) is launched in France Jan 2017. The older version was my drugstore favourite. It’s the closest MAC NC25 drugstore colour dupe that I can find in EU drugstore. Here comes the test. Is the “new formula” for the better or worse?
Coverage & Finish
Satin finish. Medium to full coverage. Buildable.
Looks natural, but not no makeup.
To be exact, MAC face & body = skin-like and undetectable. This one is detectable in real life. Cannot do the “wake up like this” sort of look.
Skin type
Worked well on my dehydrated combination skin.
Not suitable for oily skin. According to Rachael, it was horrible and melt off.
My skin type? click here
Fragrance
I love the fruity smell. It is quite strong when it is freshly out of the bottle. Can’t smell anything once it is once my face though.
Packaging
Solid plastic translucent red lid with satisfying click sound when closed. Natural pump. Glass bottle. What’s not to like? They put seriously sticky security tape and it leaves residue 🙁
Size: 30ml
Weight: 125g (bottle + product)
Country of Origin
Made in France
Bourjois is from Paris, France since 1863. Currently owned by Coty Inc.
Application method
My preferred method: buffing brush (e.g. real technique expert face) / any medium density round top synthetic brush. I find application via this method looks more radiant and natural.
This foundation does not give me the “I have no make up look”. At its most natural form, my face look me but better. The coverage is high enough that I can detect makeup if that makes sense?
Colour
All shades leans yellow / golden tone.
Best match for MAC NC25 = shade 53 light beige
There’s a lot of blog that says 52 is perfect, but I do not agree. Shade 52 on its own is a lot lighter than NC25. 52 is too white. 52 tone is also too yellow compare to NC25.
Shade 52 is closer to NC20 or between C1/C2?
When freshly pumped out, it is very yellow but not Bobbi Brown foundation stick yellow. Oxidises after 5-10min of wear. A slight tint of peach appears to last for about 15min and then dies down again closer to the original colour with tiny peach tint (grey scale 4.5). So I am not sure if I should say this thing oxidise or not really? Below is my attempt to show you the oxidated colour at its most obvious stage.
Longevity
No primer and no powder. My face had same mosturiser + sunscreen SPF50 on all test.
The “16 Hours” claim printed on the bottle is clearly written by marketing who is high on all that fruity antioxidant in the foundation. No ways that it’d last 16 hours on me.
Test 1 Tropical condition – 3 days
25-30 degree Celcius, 70% humidity, Guadeloupe
Stay put on me for 7hrs before oil came through.
Test 2 Continental condition – 1 month
-2-18 degree Celcius, 60% humidity, Paris
Stay put on me for 8-9hours before oil came through
Surprise found… It survived snorkeling. Well, lost 30% coverage after 20min snorkel and broke at places where the goggle was. Some freckles and redness peeped through. Not bad for a non waterproof number.
Sensation
Whatever emollient they’re using, it feels great on the skin. It could be the combination of the silica and glycerin? No idea. It feels fab. This foundation has a high end sensation to it. It is something quite unique to Bourjois that I cannot find in other drugstore brands. My skins feels instantly more radiant if that makes sense? I’m referring to the sensation, not just the colour.
Price
- Boots.com (UK) GBP9.99
- Bourjois.fr (FR) EUR14.99 !?!?!?!?!
- Monoprix (FR) EUR11.95
- Feelunique.com USD12.79
- The price in Hong Kong is just ridiculous. It’s HKD200+ from major retail stores
SALE ALERT
My friend scored it for EUR6.99 from Monoprix on Monday!!!! The sale ends on 28 March 2017
Sodium chloride – I don’t really understand why there’s salt in this formula. It is literately salt. I guess at the very least it can’t be bad for the skin? It is probably used as a thickening agent.
For interest’s sake, here’s the old version’s formula (http://www.bourjois.fr/maquillage/teint/fonds-de-teint/fond-de-teint-healthy-mix-58-hale-fonce.html?teinte_bjs=1385):
AQUA (WATER), DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ALCOHOL DENAT., PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PANTHENOL, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, SILICA, GLYCERIN, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CUCUMIS MELO (MELON) FRUIT EXTRACT, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) FRUIT EXTRACT, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, BENZOIC ACID, PANTOLACTONE, SORBIC ACID.
[+/- (MAY CONTAIN): CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), MICA, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES)]
12BMT003 – 1
Overall rating: B-
- Packaging 5/5
- Scent 4/5
- Blendability 5/5
- Look – 7/10
- Comfort – 8/10
- Longevity 7/10
- Oxidation – N/A the shade change is so mild, it’s barely noticeable.
- Value for money 5/5
**I do not normally travel with any glass bottle product. For the sake of this special first beauty post, I took it with me.
Where was the featured shot taken?
Camera: Canon 5D mark 3, Sony Z3+ (waterproof)
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