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REVIEW: The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation 2.0YG

Welp, it was eventually going to happen.

I managed to get a hold of the Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation while restocking on the Niacinamide 10% serum. Even better, I scored the shade 2.0 YG – described as light/medium with yellow undertones and golden highlights.

If you haven’t heard of the Ordinary, either take a quick gander at my previous posts, or check out their website. I’ll wait.

[The Ordinary Haul] Focus: Dry & Dehydrated, Acne-Prone, Texture, Prevent & Prolong

[REVIEW] One Month (and more) of the Ordinary: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinimide + Zinc, Lactic/Azelaic Acids (plus last minute buys)

www.ordinaries.com


ABOUT COLOURS

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Here is a simple breakdown of what the Colours range offers and their claims:

BASIC INFO

  • $6.70 1oz/30ml
  • 21 Shades
  • 1st category: shades divided in 3 ranges:
    – (1) Light
    – (2) Medium
    – (3) Dark
  • 2nd category: second digit 0-3 to classify depth of colour
  • 3rd category: letter to classify undertone:
    – P Pink
    – N Neutral
    – Y Yellow
    – R Red
  • 3 shades have additional letters to indicate a natural highlight:
    – S silver
    – G gold
    *more will be added to the future to customize foundations
  • Shade Guide
  • Difference between Serum and Coverage foundation is that Coverage has more pigmentation  to offer a full coverage look but without looking cakey. Their ingredients list however shows a different formulation all-together. I have not purchased the Coverage foundation, I have heard through the grape vine the texture is different from the serum foundation.
  • Can match at least 3 shades. So if you pick the wrong shade, it won’t look too obvious because of how natural the foundation sits on the skin.

CLAIMS & HOW TO USE

These [serum] foundations offer moderate coverage that looks natural with a very lightweight serum feel. They are very low in viscosity and are dispensed with the supplied pump or with the optional glass dropper available for purchase separately if preferred.

The pigments used in this format are treated for a rich, highly-saturated effect. These pigments are suspended in our proprietary spreadability system that allows pigments to look natural on the skin, resist collecting within fine lines and stay on for longer. The foundations offer a semi-matte finish and are compatible with most primers and are designed to work exceptionally well with the primers offering from The Ordinary.

Shake before use. Dispense a small amount into the palm or the back of your hand. Smooth on and blend throughout the face, ideally outward from the midpoint of the face.

INGREDIENTS

Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua (Water), Caprylyl Methicone, Coconut Alkanes, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Coco Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Hexyl Laurate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin. May Contain [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Tin Oxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane.


APPLICATION & BASE PREP

APPLICATION

I personally find best application is with what your momma gave ya: fingers! It wastes the least amount of product and you’ll still get an even coverage. If you’re feeling iffy, just blend lightly with a buffing brush or a face puff.

ON ITS OWN

I was impressed by the amount of coverage less than a pump and the natural glow it provides. I was also impressed with how long it lasted and how my makeup didn’t fade (blush, bronzer and highlight). At first I wasn’t sure because the finish really is natural; the proof that it was still on after quite the rainy day was when I used cleansing water on a cotton pad and saw it was still there! However the foundation alone REALLY emphasizes the texture on my skin, especially my scarry-looking pores. I also saw that it was clinging to a bit of my dry patches, and was slightly drying out my skin. At the end of the day my face was VERY glowy, it reminded me of my oily skin days.

WITH POWDER

Nope nope nope. If you have as dry of skin like I do, this is a big no no. My face felt SO dry after the lightest powder application on my t-zone and I looked cakey. Any natural glow this serum gave was completely gone. I doused myself in my DIY spray to feel relief.

WITH PRIMER

[001249]Using the foundation with the Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer is when I enjoyed this foundation the most. This primer in particular helps for even pigment dispersion of foundation so the finish won’t look patchy or collect on dry areas, and to keep a dewy look. This is very true. I never noticed dry patches on my skin, and the primer really helped to make sure the foundation didn’t emphasize any texture issues on my skin. The original glow you get with the foundation on its own was not as prominent. However, my skin felt more comfortable using the primer and foundation.


USAGE

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COLOUR

– Although I didn’t get matched in the store, 2.0yg blends into my skin pretty well. I also didn’t expect it to be too bad, since the claims of the foundation is that at least 3 shades should be able to match an individual with a natural finish.
– I’m impressed that there is no oxidization to this foundation, it for the most part stays true to how it sets onto your skin the first time. Having said that, I do notice more that my face is lighter than my neck.
– Undertone is not TOO yellow, but i’m very comfortable with it more than a pink undertone for sure.

FINISH

– My skin but better look.
-It goes from semi-matte to a dewy finish as the day progresses. I notice with the primer it stays at semi-matte better.
– Natural, moderate coverage; It’s such a liquidy founndation, I am VERY impressed with the pigmentation in one layer!
– Does not settle into pores or dehydrated line.
– Does not cover my pimples. It literally covers everything else except the dots! it makes them more annoying to look at.
– No point of layering, it looks the same and certain hyper-pigmentation marks look just as visible from the first layer.
– My skin feels dry after I apply this foundation, makes it pretty uncomfortable to wear.

PERFORMANCE

– Quite long wearing on its own. the first time i wore it, it was raining out and i didn’t prime or set. My foundation surprisingly didn’t look patchy, and my skin was still even tone by the time i removed it.
– Finish gets very dewy, and for this i don’t like it too much for my textured skin. if i w ear it with the primer though it doesn’t happen.
– Clings to dry patches. so around my nose and some pimples it make them look funky.
– No flashback.
– Any cream or powdered product sits beautifully on it.


OVERALL

Moderate coverage ✔
Looks natural ✔
Very lightweight serum feel ✔
Rich, highly-saturated effect ✔
Resist collecting within fine lines ✔
Stay on for longer ✔
Semi-matte finish ✔
Compatible with most primers (especially with the Ordinary ones) ✔

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This foundation does what it says it does. I usually don’t go for drugstore priced foundations because of their awful, awful oxidization. But this stays true to its colour and the technology behind it really does make it look natural on the skin. For that, and the price, I DO recommend.

Oily skinned peeps, I’d personally steer clear, because you’d be working quite a bit with this foundation to make it matte and not cakey.

Dry skinned peeps, make sure you’re properly moisturized, because it may get uncomfortable.

As for me, I will most likely give it away to my sister or cousin. They don’t have texture like I do, and I have other complexion products that don’t emphasize it when I wear them alone. Also, I really dislike the drying sensation I get almost every time I wear this foundation! I’d rather use my $59 foundation that has a ton of skincare benefits than this.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZKyie5np0A]


Hope this review was helpful to you! I mean for $6.70, we really need to put the claims to the test. I hope I did my best.

xo, M

7 thoughts on “REVIEW: The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation 2.0YG

    1. I havent bought or worn a Mac product in I don’t know how long lol! I believe I’m between an NC25-30 depending the time of year. Even when I find I’m lighter in the winter, I’m still pretty dark compared to some of my pale friends. On the Ordinary website, it says an individual should match around 3 colours, even if you don’t get the perfect one right away. I compared it to other foundations I have and their description, that’s how I chose the light/medium. Hope this helps!

      1. Thank you, it did help! I saw a review on YT who’s the same shade as me, and she said she wasn’t able to find a shade that matched her. So she had to buy 2 so mix them, to get a perfect match.

  1. hello, which shade are you in other brand foundations? I’m not sure which one to choose between 1.2 and 2.0 and their undertones..

    1. I am SO sorry I am only seeing your comment now! The best shade comparison is in the Cover Fx range – I am almost always N40 but when I’m paler I can get up to C30. I also take Light Beige in the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

  2. Hello, which shade are you in other brands foundation? I’m not sure which one to choose between 1.2 and 2.0 and their undertones..

    1. I don’t use conventional foundation brands, but say MAC I’m probably around NC25 in this shade, NC30-35 when I’m tan. My face is paler than my body – I’m between a G30 and N40 in Cover Fx Cream Foundation, and Chanel Beige 30 in their vita aqua lumiere foundation. I’m pretty sure if I wanted to match my body and face, I’d have to go past 2.0 but I usually don’t bother in the cold months (I wrote this review when it was still pretty cold where I live). Hope that helps!

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