When Natura Bisse discontinued its widely-loved The Cure Sheer Cream, it was a blow felt around the world. Where else would we find a moisturizer that quenched dry skin, blotted out redness and dark spots and delivered the perfect dose of tint and warmth that adapted to a range of light and medium skin tones? Where?
Thankfully, we weren't left in the lurch for long. With the launch of this moisturizer, we score the same healthy glow as we did with the old formula (courtesy of light-reflecting pigments), as well as the same major hit of hydration. A thicker texture means a little goes a long way for a no-makeup makeup look, but it can also be applied more generously for buildable coverage.
This tinted moisturizer is basically an entire skin care routine in an adorable little pot: With collagen-supporting ingredients like Bulgarian rose extract, moisturizers like Bulgarian rose and moringa oils and skin soothers like rose flower water, green tea and coconut water (along with 18.9 percent non-nano zinc oxide) this multitasker is made to take the place of your AM serum, moisturizer, mineral SPF, and light-coverage makeup. The bouncy, pudding-like texture is made to be applied with fingers and leaves our skin with a healthy finish that reads like an all-natural glow.
For those who hate the feel of a face oil, finding a serum-foundation that doesn't feel greasy can be a challenge. The antioxidant-packed cranberry seed oil found in this foundation instantly evaporates, morphing into a powder-like texture when smoothed onto the face, something that finishes in a demi-matte glow — no setting powder required.
Thank color theory and a helix of green, lavender and peach for this primer's ability to conceal ruddy, sallow, and hyperpigmented skin. But what makes this new take on a Stila classic even more illuminating is the inclusion of a low-key champagne shimmer (in the brand's hero shade, "Kitten").
Meanwhile, it packs legit skin care benefits too: inside the oil-free formulation is a blend of 50 percent mineral water and 15 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help skin feel bouncy, not greasy. Two pumps made our skin feel hydrated and look evenly-toned with a touch of warmth, which is everything we want makeup to do — without the makeup.
This oil-free foundation isn't made with as many serum-like, skin-benefiting ingredients as some of the others we tried (vitamin E and hydrating emollients are standouts). But the ultra-thin, yet silky liquid blends easily to erase hyperpigmentation and cover acne scars, with zero caking whatsoever. Even more impressive: like prestige formulations, it leaves a demi-matte finish that convincingly mimics natural skin... but costs less than a month's subscription of Netflix.
