Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation Review In Shade 34 Deep Cool

 

The Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation is a really interesting product.

This patent pending foundation was highly anticipated and when it dropped immediately beauty lovers were posting about it.

The coverage can be medium, buildable or full coverage based on your application (sponge, brush, or finger application).

It’s also “self-setting” (that’s the innovative part).

Urban Decay boasts that Face Bond ($40) gives a natural matte finish that doesn’t need powder to set it.

They claim its smudge resistant, transfer resistant, and has up to 24 hours of wear time in 40 shades.

 

Product Description:

Urban Decay describes its Face Bond Foundation as a “Self-Setting Waterproof Foundation is a buildable medium coverage foundation that absorbs sweat and sebum for a natural-looking matte finish, that is both smudge- and transfer-resistant for up to 24 hours”. (description taken from Ulta Beauty)

Is it innovative or is it circling the block to 2016?

The Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation ($40) feels innovative, but also feels like a 2016 high coverage matte foundation at the same time.

I had beef with this foundation from the start.

It took me 3 tries, and 2 embarrassing Sephora visits to find the right shade for me.

Generally I do find shades in my shade range, so the issue is usually undertone.

I’m always looking for a more neutral (with some golden) undertone.

I am not warm toned and most of the shades in my range (“medium deep” or “deep”) are always too warm.

I tried shade 33 and it was too warm.

Shade 32 was also too warm.

I finally tried shade 34 which was perfect.

Considering that there are 40 shades, sometimes it is not as helpful to look at the photos to find your shade.

Urban Decay generally does a good job with their shade matching photos but this launch was a bit wonky.

Wonky foundation shades that we too similar to each other, or just WARM with little variation feels like 2016 all over again.

I’ve worn this foundation for 16 hours by accident

I have combination skin, so I tend to get oily in my t-zone and I get a little dry around my mouth.

I typically wear foundation for about 10 hours, and the sign of a good foundation is how it wears after about 4-5 hours.

Now, I didn’t intend to wear Face Bond for that long buuuuut fun was had (#Vegas) and thus…a 16 hour wear test.

After 16 hours, the foundation still looked beautiful.  Smooth and even with a natural finish.

I was shocked.

The foundation did break up a little bit around my nose, so I had a little shine in my nose and a little bit on my forehead, but really not nearly as much as most foundations that claim to have a natural matte finish or a crazy long wear time.

Note: The photos in this review are not from my uncalled for 16 hour wear test.

She plays well with others

I never set my face when wearing the Face Bond Foundation.

You can apply the foundation and move on with the rest of your routine; no pilling, patchiness, dryness, or anything else that could ruin your whole look.

I’ve put liquid blush on top of it. Liquid bronzer on top of it, and it takes any type of makeup beautifully.

Honestly, Urban Decay may have had NARS in mind when formulating Face Bond.

The soft matte finish and long wear reminds me of the NARS Soft Matte Foundation formula.

The wonky warm shade range is also reminding me of that formula as well.

Read: NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation Review (Marquises) + Swatches

It’s beautiful but don’t get heavy handed with it

Brands will say that their product is buildable, but it’s hard to pull off.

Face Bond does it.  You can start small, and build up to full coverage.

The best way for me to wear this foundation is to start with a small amount and then go back to cover my blemishes and dark spots with more coverage.

But don’t go in for full coverage right away.

In fact, I don’t wear this foundation as full coverage.

Although the shade match is as perfect as I can get it, if I put too much product on, the warmth really starts to come through by the end of the day.

Yep, the shade is called Deep Cool but its giving Deep Warm at full coverage (on me).

What I love about this foundation is that it wears all day, and looks beautiful even if you do medium coverage or a light coverage (using a sponge).

You really don’t NEED a full coverage application.

Trust me, this is coming from a hyperpigmentation queen.

The formula evens out my skin tone with a light layer and a second “spot conceal” type layer over my imperfections!

There’s only one real bummer with this foundation

It does dry down a little faster than I expected, but not quite as fast as the NARS Soft Matte foundation (thank goodness).

 

Urban Decay is earning that patient!

Urban decay did a really great job with this foundation.

I was able to take it on a really hot 100° vacation and boy did it hold up in that heat.

It’s truly buildable, softly matte, and plays well with other products.

At this point, with a 100 degree vacation and 16 hour wear test, its been through a true beauty test and PASSED!

 

You will like this product if:

• You are looking for buildable coverage
• You want a foundation that says soft matte or natural matte all day long
• You’re looking for a foundation that doesn’t need powder to “set it

 

You may not like this product if:

• You have very dry skin
• You have deep but neutral undertones (the shades are wonky)

 

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