Review: Clinique Almost Makeup SPF 15

Foundation: how can something so basic and functional be so incredibly tricky?

There are so many considerations when it comes to finding the perfect foundation – colour and shade (dark, fair, medium, tan, olive, pink undertoned, brown undertoned, yellow undertoned?), skin type (oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, normal skin?), brand loyalty, individual preference (shimmery, matte, oil-absorbing, light-reflecting?) – the list is endless. So if and when you find a foundation you fall in love with, take note and don’t forget it!

While we’re on the subject, here’s a quick review of my favourite foundation: Clinique’s Almost Makeup SPF 15.

Clinique Almost Makeup SPF 15 - Photo courtesy of clinique.com

More after the jump!

I’ve been using this extremely lightweight liquid foundation for about a year now and I quite love it for a myriad of different reasons. Firstly, it does a great job at unifying skin tone without being cakey or looking slathered on because its formula is sheer. Upon application, if you get the right shade for your skin tone, it blends effortlessly into your existing colour and creates a nice uniform, healthy skin glow. Also, you can always layer more on for more coverage as you wish.  Personally, when I’m after heavier coverage, I layer Almost Makeup on twice and finish with Clinique Blended Face Powder. For daily use, I am quite happy to charge out of the house with just one layer of Almost Makeup on (and maybe powder if I can be bothered, but most days I’m perfectly happy without!).

Secondly, my skin likes the formula. Although it appears thick when you squeeze it out of the tube, once applied to warm skin, it smoothens out into a nice comfortable veil. It’s breathable and oil-free (good news for an oily-skinned girl such as myself), doesn’t clog pores, and washes away easily with a little cleanser and warm water – no need for rubbing or scrubbing.

Thirdly, it’s got inbuilt sun protection. Admittedly, SPF15 isn’t that high a protection factor, but when you spend most time in an office cubicle and only venture out for meetings and lunch/tea breaks, it does the job well. When I’m spending more time in the sun, I generally chuck on some of my trusty Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40 before applying Almost Makeup and I’m good to go.

Finally, it holds up like a barricade against humid, warm Southeast Asian weather! Surprisingly this formula doesn’t melt off my skin on especially hot and sticky days. It’ also water resistant and therefore holds up pretty well against sweat. . A quick warning though, if you’re looking for a liquid foundation that soaks up lots of excess sebum, this isn’t the one for you. Clinique does not at all claim that Almost Makeup is an oil-absorbing foundation – for that purpose, I would suggest running with Bobbi Brown’s Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF15++ instead. In any case, blotters do little to no damage to Almost Makeup’s coverage, so no harm done!

I do have one massive complaint though: this product is unfortunately not available in Malaysia or Singapore, which is rather odd considering its sheer, lightweight, non-cakey coverage would make it excellent for the region’s weather. I purchased my 45ml tube in Australia for a (whopping) 60 AUD – however, it does retail at a very affordable 21 USD in the Land of the Free.

Pour conclure, Almost Makeup SPF 15′s French name, “teint naturel parfait” (perfect natural tint), lives up to its name, at least for me! Now if only they’d bring this – and the rest of the Almost range, which includes lipsticks, bronzers and powders – to these shores. Until then, I twiddle my thumbs with great impatience (and live in fear of my tube running out).