I am on a never ending quest to find the perfect foundation for me and my fickle skin, so when I came across Hince and it’s uniquely titled Second Skin Foundation, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.
The Claims
Hince describes this foundation as having a breathable formula thanks to it’s ability to create a “light coating powder” over the skin. It also promises that your skin won’t feel tight while wearing this foundation due to the amino acids in the foundation which sounds great for people with dry skin like me. The final big claim that I was interested but skeptical of was the fact that it called this foundaton “mask proof”. I don’t know where or when you are reading this, but right now Covid is still a very big thing and in South Korea masks are currently a requirement, so finding a mask proof foundation is a bit like finding magic in your everyday life.
Quantity: 40 ml
Experience & Results
I bought it in the shade #23 Sand which was actually the darkest of three shades I found in my local store. On Hince’s English website it looks like there are 5 shades all together so if you are a little fairer or deeper than I am, you should check and see if your shade is available. #23 Sand is probably the closest match to my body’s color that I have seen in a very long time. For some reason it’s really hard to find my exact shade in Korea even though I’m quite pale. That’s why based on the color alone I was in love.
I put on two layers in order to get this result and the finish, perhaps due to that coating powder effect, feels velvety matte. Something about this foundation made me feel youthful and sweet. I just couldn’t stop smiling after seeing myself in the mirror. Hince is right that it does look like skin, and compared to the Innisfree Simple Label Tinted Moisturizer I reviewed before (click here), it’s a little bit better at covering texture if that is a concern for you. However, if you looking to hide your pores and skin texture completely, you will either need to use a primer or perhaps look for another foundation. For me, this lets my skin look better, but still like skin.
Now is it mask proof? Not at all. And unfortunately, it is not very durable either. After about five hours, it went from velvety to shiny and my redness started to show through. However! On a different day, I switched up my skincare routine, and it performed way better in terms of coverage, but it still isn’t transfer proof. But that goes to show you that if a product doesn’t work the way you want it to, sometimes you have to play around with it and your other products to see if it makes a difference.
The Conclusion
I guess the big question is… do I recommend this product? I do like it, and the fact that it’s a super close match to my skin tone made me repurchase a second bottle. However, there a few cons which you should consider. First, it’s quite pricy for a natural looking foundation at 39.00 USD. Secondly, the bottle it comes in, while aesthetically pleasing, is bulky and makes it hard for you to carry around with you in case you need to touch up during the day. Finally, it’s not a vegan product if that concerns you at all. So unless their shade range includes a color that perfectly suits you, I have a feeling that there might be a better foundation out in the world, I just haven’t found it yet.
Cost & Where to Buy
Disclaimer: I have am not affiliated with any of the following links. They are merely suggestions of where they can be purchased, so please proceed at your own discretion when purchasing. Furthermore, sites labeled “Internationally” or “Worldwide” may not offer shipping to all countries, just some.
Worldwide
Cost:
39.00 USD / 36,000 KRW
Ingredients
Shade #23 Sand:
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Silica,
Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Alumina, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1
Dimethicone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Sodium
Benzoate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Fragrance, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Disodium stearoyl glutamate, Triethyl Citrate,
Polysilicone-11, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin,
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene
Beauty Bap 