L’Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Review & Swatches
L’Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder is the type of product that renews and refreshes your love of beauty. I mean innovative products like “Liquid Powder” get me excited. The Magic Nude Liquid Powder promises to magically transform from liquid to powder on contact with skin.
Wow, run around in circles, get excited! That sounds damn special. Being bombarded with beauty daily as a blogger sometimes I get a little tired, burnt out etc..so products like this really get me excited as it is something quite different. Granted, Armani Maestro Foundation (same company) has already cornered the market on “liquid, true to skin” foundations but still I think Magic Nude Liquid Powder is an interesting launch for a drugstore product.
Let’s take a look!
L’Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder is a liquid to powder foundation product that promises to leave behind a bare skin finish. It comes in a 0.9oz glass frosted glass bottle and will likely retail for around $12-$14 at mass market drugstores. I personally got mine for $10 and some change but that is at Harmons which is considerably cheaper when it comes to cosmetic prices.
Now Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation and Armani Maestro Foundation are too similar products so this “innovation” isn’t exactly new it is however, at this moment, unique to drugstore makeup. I have not tried the Hourglass version however, I felt like Armani’s has a smoother more natural appearance versus the L’Oreal version and a better texture. You’ll have blogs/friends/family/beauty lovers proclaim this is a dupe for Maestro Foundation but I personally do not endorse that idea. I’m unsure why everyone is obsessed with the idea of finding drugstore dupes for higher end products. I find it a very rare occurrence.
Magic Nude Liquid Powder is available in twelve shades all of which apparently run darker. I went with Creamy Natural (314), I believe it is the third shade in the lighter color ranges and it was WAY tan. You can actually peek at these in store as they aren’t sealed (not great because people will sit there and touch/swatch it, gross!) but you can uncap it and just peer inside if you will. I did so with a fair few of the shades and they all appeared to run darker.
Just a note the bottle is lethal. If you drop it, it will shatter and create an absolute horror show on your bathroom floor, you’ve been warned! This in fact also presents a challenge for removing the foundation. If you’re one for using a brush to apply foundation or a sponge, etc…this style bottle can be a pain. The directions say to pour a few drops onto your fingers and apply directly to skin. I’m cool with this, I always use my fingers to apply anyway. You have to shake the bottle very well prior to use and hold your finger over the opening and kinda dab it onto your finger as you would a fragrance with no spritzer. It’s quite a thinner, liquidy texture so don’t attempt to pour it out. This in fact makes for messy application should you wish to travel with it. If you do use a brush to apply foundation perhaps dabbing a bit on the back of your hand and swirling your brush in would be a great method for applying. Although they advise against using a brush or sponge on the bottle.
This contain Octinoxate Sunscreen with SPF 18 which in my opinion isn’t much protection at all.
The formula is very thin and runny almost like water really. It has a smooth, silky feel as you blend it on with fingers. I didn’t find it streaky and it felt like it melded right into my skin. You can do a very sheer, light layer to even out skin tone or build it for more coverage. It doesn’t have the coverage of a regular foundation product and runs sheerer so it does perfect and will hide minor issues but if you desire or need fuller coverage this isn’t the product for you.
It starts out dewy to the touch but sets to a satin semi-matte finish. It feels like the type of product that might irritate or clog pores for those with sensitive skin. Not sure why I think or believe that but thought I’d mention it here. It does have a fresher floral alcohol scent which disappears once applied.
I have drier skin and it didn’t really cling to my drier areas and looked like a second skin. I do think it needs to be set with a powder as I found it faded away fairly quickly at around three hours of wear.
I generally like the idea of a natural second skin foundation. The concept is a great one however, I don’t feel like this exactly worked. It has a shorter wear time, the formula feels a little odd going on (almost greasy?), and the entire liquid to powder finish doesn’t exactly translate well here. Plus my skin wasn’t as bright and flawless as I would get from my normal foundation products, it really didn’t ease dullness very well but seemed to add to that dullness.
I imagine some people might love it.
But I personally think it needs a little work.
The idea is an excellent one and it could potentially be a great product but there are things missing and something I can’t quite put my finger on that makes me dislike it.
If you truly want a second skin-like foundation I’d highly recommend Perfect Refining Foundation.
Tried it?
Love to hear your thoughts!