It only took me ten years of testing foundations for a living to find one I like enough to wear every day.
It’s not that there aren’t tonnes of stellar formulations out there, but rather that I’m incredibly fussy. To make it into my kit, a base product must work pretty hard: it needs to be gleaming, but not glittery, and it must gently diffuse redness and pigmentation (both of which I possess a generous helping of) without feeling like a mask. Matte formulas and full coverage are firmly off the cards. And the number-one non-negotiable? It must not settle into fine lines, pores or nasolabial folds.
Am I asking too much? Not according to Saie, whose lightweight foundation ticks every single box.
The brand’s Glowy Super Skin Foundation is – if you like a light, glossy base – the ultimate everyday complexion product. Available in 35 shades, it’s a low-to-medium coverage formula that brightens more than it conceals, meaning you’re left with skin that still looks like skin, no matter how enthusiastically you layer it up.
The texture is thin, almost watery, and the pigment manages to achieve that light-reflecting finish without falling back on tiny flecks of glitter (those are also on my banned list).
In fact, Glowy Super Skin doesn’t doesn’t just look good: it’s formulated with hefty thought, too. According to the brand, it’s made with 85% ‘skincare’ ingredients, which makes it more of a pigmented serum than a full-on foundation (and also means you need to shake the bottle well to combine the two elements).
Indeed, a squint at the inci list confirms there’s really no filler in there, and instead there are multiple weights of hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, squalane and peptides. It’s also free from silicone, which is great news for both the acne-prone and those who like a breathable foundation, but note that it won’t do that pore-filling thing your old full-coverage foundation does so well.
Instead, it sinks into skin to leave behind nothing but a luminous hint of coverage that makes all skin tones look beautiful. Apply a light layer and freckles will shine through, but a heavier-handed application will mask moderate redness and breakouts seamlessly. In short, it’s the perfect foundation for those who don't want to look like they're wearing foundation.
Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Happily, for those times when you want to mask a hormonal breakout or amp up the under-eye brightening, there's now an equally impressive concealer to match. The Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer is loaded with humectants and emollients, meaning it plumps and hydrates as well as it covers (and we all know the key to concealer that goes the distance is ample hydration). Use it under your eyes, over patches of redness and atop angry spots: this powerhouse formula can do it all.
Converted? There are other stand-outs in the Saie family you’re sure to love just as much. First up, the Sun Melt bronzer is the perfect partner to your new favourite foundation. A cream formula, it’s soft enough to be picked up by a light stippling brush (which is how I prefer to apply it) and gently buffed over the top of your base to add translucent, believable colour. (I’d never call it a dupe, but it’s strikingly similar to that coveted cream bronzer that’s always out of stock…)
Saie Sun Melt
Saie Glowy Super Gel
Finally, the Glowy Super Gel. if you like your skin satiny, this won’t be for you, but anyone who likes an extra-juicy complexion will love it. Made with 75% water, the unique formula sits somewhere in-between a gel and a serum, and can be used in multiple ways: try wearing it simply over sunscreen, using it as a primer, or dabbing it atop cheekbones as a sheer highlighter. The iridescent particles are so fine, you’ll never look soaked in sparkle, no matter how the light hits.
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