FOUNDATION FRIDAY #2: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare

When I found out IT Cosmetics launched a new complexion product, I immediately added it to my Sephora cart to try out. Back in 2018 I tried and adored their Your Skin But Better CC Cream, so I was super excited to see how their Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare performed!


Information on IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare

Experience an instantly better-looking complexion and better bare skin in two weeks! Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare features medium buildable coverage that instantly perfects skin—minimizing the look of pores and imperfections while delivering all-day hydration and wear with a natural radiant finish.

Suitable for all skin types and infused with skin-loving hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, vitamins E & B5 and hepes acid, your skin-improving makeup works behind the scenes as you wear it. After just two weeks, skin looks smoother, skin tone appears more even and skin texture is visibly refined. IT’s truly your foundation for better skin!– Itcosmetics.ca

PRICE: $52 CAD
SIZE: 30ml
Made in: U.S.A
Total # shades: 40, various undertones
MY SHADE: Light Neutral 22 (picked it myself online)
Undertone: Neutral leaning pink, not my undertone. I feel like the Warm version would’ve been better and possibly similar to the Estee Lauder swatch.

Michelle's foundation swatches from top to bottom: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare Light Neutral 22, MAC Studio Sculpt NC20, Estee Lauder Double Wear 2N1 Desert Beige
Foundation swatches from top to bottom: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare Light Neutral 22, MAC Studio Sculpt NC20, Estee Lauder Double Wear 2N1 Desert Beige. Last 2 were matched by a MUA.

PACKAGE: Clear glass bottle with a pump
TEXTURE: Thick fluid. It travels down my hand but not very fast.


IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare Ingredients

itcosmetics-foundation-ingredients

AQUA/WATER/EAU, DIMETHICONE, ISODODECANE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, GLYCERIN, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, HEXYL LAURATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, TOCOPHEROL, SILICA, PANTHENOL, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, HYDROXYETHYL UREA, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE POWDER, SODIUM HYALURONATE, TIN OXIDE, HYDRATED SILICA, METHICONE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, [+/-: CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/IRON OXIDES, MICA, CI 77007/ULTRAMARINES, CI 15985/YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 45410/RED 28 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 7]. D247442/1

Highlighted Ingredients:
Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera: Instantly hydrate and visibly smooth skin.

Hepes Acid: Gently exfoliates for a brighter-looking complexion.
Vitamins E and B5: Moisturize and fight free radicals to support skin‘s barrier.

– Sephora.ca

Skinthusiast Perspective…

Contains moisturizing ingredients such has various -cones (mostly for texture but nice as a type of occlusive in skincare in general), Glycerin (5th ingredient), Panthenol (vitamin B5), Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aloe Leaf Juice Powder, and Sodium Hyaluronate.

Antioxidant Tocopherol (vitamin E) and Iron Oxides are also in the formula to help protect against visible light.

Taken from a previous Foundation Friday post:

Both antioxidants and Iron Oxides have shown to reduce the effects of visible light and help with pigmentation issues. Lab Muffin does a great job at explaining all of the research behind this in a digestible manner – be sure to check out her blog post and others as well!
https://labmuffin.com/does-visible-light-cause-skin-damage-and-how-to-protect-against-it/

– Me

Now let’s look at this HEPES Acid, a.k.a. hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid. Skinceuticals describes its function as a “synthetically-derived acid [that] activates natural enzymes in skin to help break the bonds that bind dead skin cells to the surface for even exfoliation.” INCIDecoder and Paula’s Choice lists this ingredient as a buffering agent. The Derm Review also shares that HEPES Acid is pH neutral and commonly combined with Glycolic Acid as a buffering agent. Browsing the interwebs further, Skinceuticals actually formulated their Discoloration Defense serum with 5% HEPES Acid, and Vichy’s Idealia Peeling also has the same concentration, both exfoliating products are however formulated with other acids. Overall as a consumer I’m quite confused. For me personally, I don’t use exfoliating products in my skincare daily in general, and I don’t really want that feature in a potential daily wear foundation either.


Experience with IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare

PREP: Regular skincare routine, I always wore the foundation over a moisturizing sunscreen base that doesn’t add or subtract to foundation longevity. Eg. Purito Centella Green Level Unscented Sun SPF50 PA++++.

Overall Activities: Sitting on couch working, working out, walking outside, wearing a mask for 2 minutes. Wore it to the mall with wearing mask for a few hours.

Application:
1st Attempt:
1st layer Split-face application with Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush and Beauty Blender. I dotted the foundation on various parts of my face and neck, brush-side had some minor streaking. 2nd layer I used the sponge all over face and neck, still using the dotting technique. Used about 2 pumps total. Looked very cakey, dry patches all over, radiant finish, medium coverage, pores looked more textured. I decided to wash my face and start over.
2nd Attempt: Decided to just apply 1 layer with the Beauty Blender. Instead of dotting all over, I dotted in one area and only applied more when I needed it. I used 1.5 pumps all over my face and neck with this method and it was the best one.

Coverage/Buildable?: 1 thin layer is a light coverage. 2 layers it is a low medium coverage.

Finish: Radiant, not borderline oily. Seems to be the particles in the foundation that disperse light more nicely. 1 layer skin looks smooth, pores look blurred despite radiant finish. Noticed some dry patches but it is forgiving, I don’t see them unless I look really up close. 2nd layer of foundation skin looked cakey, the radiance was a bit extra, sitting into pores, more dry patches, pink undertone was more obvious, wasn’t flattering at all on my skin.

Feel: Light, slightly tacky. Skin started to feel dry every time within 2 hours of wearing the foundation. Sometimes I felt itchy.

michxmash-itcosmetics-foundation-with-flash

Flash Friendly? Yes. My face is lighter than my body (and ears) so I don’t consider this flashback, just a mix of my lighter-skinned face and a wrong shade match.

Oxidize? No, however with 2 layers I notice the pink undertone more.

Oil Controlling? I don’t get super oily until end of day, I found my oils did peak through around that time.

Long Lasting? After work outs, low activities or just chilling all day, I found most of the coverage still lasted after 8-10 hours. I didn’t notice anything significantly disappear unless I wore a mask in which it rubbed off my nose and chin.

End of Day: 1st layer skin always looked like skin from either far away or up close, coverage was still there, some of my natural oils came through.

Natural Light: Looks like my skin but better with 1 layer. 2nd layer looks terrible.

False Light: Looks fine most of the day with 1 layer. End of day I find I notice my skin texture in general but it’s not grossly emphasized with the foundation. When I tested with the 2nd layer I saw texture on my forehead and pore area from a distance near end of day.


OTHER WAYS I’VE WORN THIS FOUNDATION:

  • With powder (over 1 layer) – Emphasized dryness in the center of my face, made my skin look more dehydrated, nasolabial folds looked more prominent. I did a split-face with my Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation (NC20) and my Mac side looked moisturized, no dry patches, and skin still looked plump and moisturized.
  • Cream and powder cheek products – Both work fine.

Final Thoughts on the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare

DID IT MEET THE CLAIMS?

  • Better bare skin in two weeks – With the handful of times I wore this foundation, my skin felt dehydrated every time I wore it and I actually feel like this broke me out.
  • Medium buildable coverage – More like light to medium buildable coverage.
  • Minimizing the look of pores and imperfections – Yes. Skin looked smoother and I like how my pores looked most of the time with 1 layer.
  • All-day hydration – Nope, opposite actually! (Refer to first claim)
  • Natural radiant finish – Yes, I noticed the particles and felt like light was reflecting off my skin differently. Looked too much when I layered though.
  • Suitable for all skin types – Meh, I guess, it’s just up to you how you want to work with it/can work with it.
  • After just two weeks, skin looks smoother, skin tone appears more even and skin texture is visibly refined – Did not wear this foundation long enough to see, but I have my skincare routine to do this stuff. I never rely on foundations for skincare benefits other than maybe not drying out my skin, and potentially protecting against visible light. I actually noticed my skin broke out every time I wore this foundation, quite a bit on my cheeks.

OVERALL PROS:

  • Quick and easy to apply all over face and neck with a brush or sponge.
  • Radiant finish doesn’t look borderline greasy.
  • Improves the look of my skin texture, makes skin look smoother.
  • Buildable coverage.
  • Pores look blurred despite radiant finish.
  • 1 layer looks the most skin-like and not cakey once I finished my makeup routine.
  • 1 layer it looks really good up close as I wear it throughout the day.
  • 1 layer dry patches are not exaggerated.

OVERALL CONS:

  • Cannot build the coverage without the foundation looking horrible on me. 2 layers don’t work for me because it increases how cakey my face looks, the dry patches, and gathers near my nasolabial folds.
  • Can’t use powder to subdue shine without it making my skin have more dry patches and look dehydrated.
  • On its own, 2 layers makes my skin look dehydrated.
  • Feels drying within 2 hours with both 1 and 2 layers.
  • I don’t like exfoliating ingredients in my foundations, it just invites more skin problems than improvements in the long run.

MY BEST FACE: 1 thin layer applied with the beauty blender, no powder (other than cheek product).
michxmash-itcosmetics-your-skin-but-better-foundation-skincare

Overall, the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare is a pass for me. I was hoping this could be a potential go-to for an effortless, medium coverage, natural, long-lasting, pore blurring foundation. Alas, I just don’t like my skin feeling tight and dry throughout the day, and building coverage does not work for me. If you’re not prone to dry patches, do not get easily sensitized to drying products, like radiant finishes but want a skin-perfecting quality, you may actually like this foundation! It overall has a good shade range with a variety of undertones and has good coverage, so it may work for you more than it did for me!

WHERE TO BUY:
It Cosmetics
Sephora
Ulta

All links are affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you so much if you decide to use it! If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to google a new link.

And that’s it for this review! Hope you found it helpful and informative!

xo, M

BEST OF BEAUTY 2018: Makeup

2018 flew by so freaking fast! It’s been a personal journey for me, but let’s reflect on the interesting stuff: MAKEUP! Below are the ones that hit me in the feels when I use it (I mean that in the best of ways). I understand the product, I look forward to using them, and I trust them.

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


BASE

mu-faves-18-base

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream (Medium) – One of the best Western CC Creams that I have tried to date. Provides great coverage, literally makes it look like my skin but better, lasts a long time. It’s no surprise that it’s one I favour, for it’s made in Korea, the place where BB Creams became heavily popularized! I do sometimees notice my face looking paler than usual when using this, but it’s in the off lighting that you’ll barely catch me under xP

MAC Cosmetics Studio Face & Body Foundation (C2) – A great reach for when you literally want just a tint. The base is on the glowier side, so I find this more suitable for the winter time when my skin is more susceptible to looking lack-luster. I also found the coverage of this tint buildable compared to other ones I’ve tried.

MUFE Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation (Y305 Soft Beige) – She is found – a natural looking, buildable, matte-satin foundation for DRY skin. Here’s the catch – the matte look doesn’t last that long, but it wears the way I want it to for a night out, which is when I tend to reach for this. I’ve worn it for a whole day and it will get quite dewy, but heck, the finish is there when it matters most and it’s been a while since I’ve been so comfortable wearing a foundation. Since it is buildable, I can also use this to spot conceal as well. It’s not 100% non-transferrable, but definitely better than when I used to use Too Faced Born This Way Foundation!

Pixi Beauty H2O Skin Tint (No. 3 Warm) – One of the better drugstore complexion finds I have found to date. It’s not orange, it’s an actual undertone. It always gives me a lovely satin finish, with a slight blurring effect.

mu-faves-18-base-spray

Pixi Beauty Makeup Fixing Mist – At first the heavy fragrance in this turned me off, but it’s so damn good that I put up with it. Before makeup, it gives my skin a great healthy glow without looking oily, and really diffuses the texture I’m concerned with on my forehead. After makeup, gets rid of the dry, powdery look if I did overpowder.

I encourage you to check out my previous posts if any categories are missing. Like I said, I only include the ones that really hit me in thefeels the year I discovered it!


EYE AREA

mu-faves-18-mascara

Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara (Super Waterproof, 01 Jet Black) – Black, waterproof, buildable. I can wear it for a natural look, and build it up when I do a more eyeshadow heavy look. Seriously, the Japanese know what to do with mascaras!

Anastasia Beverley Hills Soft Glam Palette – Hands down most used palette this year. I was really fond of using Orange Soda, Burnt Orange, and Sienna this year, all year long. Lately I’ve been loving a brown smokey eye!


CHEEK

mu-faves-18-cheeks

Clinique Cheek Pop (Melon Pop) – So glad to have given cheek pops a try, and I was lucky enough to first pick out my favourite daily blush! I’ve watched Korean MUAs use them for its water-colour type finish. And they were right! It adds a beautiful hue to the cheeks and lasts.

mu-faves-18-cheek-swatches

Winky Lux Strobe Balm (Lit) – I actually like this better than RMS Beauty’s Living Luminizer! While that one is natural, the WL one is thinner, hence easier for me to use on top of any base. It’s also more dimensional and I find it works as a nice base for other highlighters.


LIPS

mu-faves-18-lips

Bubz Beauty Liquid Lipstick (Girl Next Door) – The best neutral pink lip product I have come across. I can make it work with a warm and cool look, and it doesn’t make my lips look pasty or buttholey.

mu-faves-18-lip-swatches
Left to right: Shu Uemura “S RD 150”, Bubz “Girl Next Door”

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine Liptisck (S RD 150) – The perfect hot pink colour! Love that it leans warm, and you can wear it sheer or really build the colour. It really moisturizes my lips and I never have problems wearing it for the whole day. I’ve been searching for this colour for so long!


 

makeupfaves2018look

And there you have it, my makeup faves from 2018!! If I didn’t mention a product in a specific category, check out my previous “Best of” posts, I’m most likely still using the same stuff! In the selfie above, I used all products I mentioned (except 3/4 foundations… Cause you know, I only have so much face). List of products used are already captioned in my Instagram post.

Hope you have had an amazing 2018, and 2019 has been treating you well so far! Stay tuned for the Best of Skincare!

xo, M


BEST OF BEAUTY 2017: MAKEUP
The Best of Beauty 2016


*This post contains affiliate links.

July 2018 Roundup

Usually I like doing both video and blog posts on my monthly roundup, but I’ve been rushing to get a bit of content up (eg. Nighttime (PM) Skincare Routine video is published, not post) so for this post I’m sacrificing words that I am pretty much saying in my video. Enjoy!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJmWtJSN-9Y]

Favourites

IMG_20180811_161922.jpg

Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel REVIEW: [JOLSE] secretKey Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel 120ml (New Package) *

Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes

La Roche-Posay Serozinc Purifying Mist

Divine Essence Wild Cornflower Floral Water *

Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream SPF 40

It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation SPF 50


Empties

IMG_20180811_162045.jpg

Cerave PM Moisturizing Facial Lotion
My Morning (AM) Skincare Routine 2018

Banish Acne Scars Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
REVIEW: Banish Acne Scars Banish Starter Kit

Le Correcteur de Chanel Longwear Concealer (20)


Very short post, but I still hope you enjoyed it!

xo, M


This post contains affiliate links.
DISCLAIMER, PR, AFFILIATES

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It was almost instinctive that I brush off glass skin to be something achievable for me. Why? First off, I still break out. Secondly, I’m still trying to heal the atrophic scarring I have from my cystic acne past. So I did what everyone else would do, watch perfect-skin looking YouTubers do it and enjoy the aesthetic vicariously. It actually wasn’t until I saw Edward Avila’s take on glass skin that I became inspired to try it myself. Edward is a KBeauty YouTuber based in Seoul and he has a considerable amount of texture from acne like myself. Despite the crazy glow mixed with texture, his skin overall looked REALLY good and in my opinion definitely achieved the look. To see someone with a similar skin-type as mine prompted me to try it for myself.

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