When it comes to foundations, there are a few things I look for. As a person with oily skin, I look for the foundation to be matte (but comfortable), breathable, long wearing, non-transferrable and also to still appear skin like. The Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation has certainly met my needs well.  

The Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation claims to be ‘An oil-free, hydrating liquid foundation that gives you flawless skin for 15 hours. It's tested to ensure that you look good in any light.’ Smashbox tests all of their products in their lighting lab called Flashbox, to ensure that their colour consistency works for all skin tones. The foundation comes in 22 shades, with seven or eight of the shades tailored for darker skin tones. 

Alongside the claims above, the foundation is also supposed to give a medium to full buildable coverage, with a natural matte finish. It’s also supposed to have a blurring effect, and feel lightweight and comfortable with no touch-ups required. As with all of Smashbox products, the foundation is also cruelty free. 

I really enjoy using this product. I actually first used it a couple of years ago and loved it then. I believe they have since expanded their shade range, which is great, but more still needs to be done.  It lasted all day for me (up 10 hours of wear), and although it didn’t completely control my oils, I didn’t feel uncomfortable or appear too greasy. It definitely is a lightweight formula, and appears matte on the face for quite a few hours after wear. I personally do not like to touch up throughout the day, and I found that this foundation is definitely one that is hassle-free.  I love that it is hydrating but also works well on my oily skin. 

When purchasing this foundation, I would highly recommend that you get yourself shade matched. I received the shade 4.15, which is described as ‘a dark warm brown with a terracotta (red) undertone.’ I tend to lean towards more neutral undertones, so for me this foundation is slightly too red. 

Another point to note is that the bottle is made of glass, which is great for aesthetics, but if you are accident-prone or like to travel with your makeup then this may be one to be mindful of. However, I love the fact that the bottle comes with a pump, as it makes controlling the amount of foundation you use so much easier. 

One thing that I was really surprised by was the shelf life of the foundation. I’m used to seeing 12 months on foundation bottles, but this one has a shelf life of 24 months.

Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation is priced at £29.50. 

For more information, please visit their website.