Revlon Candid Foundation | Review

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A few weeks ago, I was walking around Ulta and saw this Candid display from Revlon. The Candid Anti-Pollution foundation was new to me, and apparently new to a lot of you (as told by Instagram), but it launched back in September.

When I’m scanning foundations, I tend to look for “sheer,”” “tinted moisturizer” and other similar adjectives. The Candid foundation caught my eye with “anti-pollution.”

I’ve been testing this for a few weeks, and I have mixed thoughts. Let me tell you what I mean…

the basics

The Revlon Candid foundation launched back in September with 30 shades, which is pretty impressive for a first launch at the drugstore! I got the shade 110 (which is just a smidge too dark for my liking). You get .75 oz of product, and it retails for $10-12, depending on the retailer.

Revlon markets the Candid Anti-Pollution as skincare inspired makeup that’s blendable, buildable, and infused with anti-oxidants, anti-pollution, and anti-blue light ingredients. It claims to have buildable medium coverage with a natural finish.

This foundation is also formulated without oils, parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and fragrances.

Below I’ve included swatches compared to some of my favorite foundations.

the packaging

I actually really enjoy this packaging. It’s a plastic tube with a pump.

the formula

Rhttps://shopstyle.it/l/Y2wbevlon described it as having a creamy texture that goes on like a moisturizer and blends invisibly into the skin. Initially, I compared this to my beloved Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue. That product is kind of a bouncy cream texture that feels like a moisturizer on thee skin. The Revlon Candid foundation is lightweight, but I can still feel it on my skin. It’s not terrible and uncomfortable. But definitely noticeable.

Candid claims to have a medium coverage with a natural finish that can be built up to a full coverage. I agree about the natural finish. It isn’t matte, but it’s not super dewy. I actually really like the finish this foundation gives.

The coverage? I don’t know about that. I would say it’s more of a sheer/light coverage that can be built up to about a medium coverage.

And from there, let’s get into my review…

the review

the good

So there were some things I really loved about this foundation. I love the packaging. The finish is really pretty. I also was intrigued by the anti-pollution aspect of this foundation. I mean, it wasn’t something I noticed, but it gave me a kind of piece of mind.

the not good

Considering this foundation is marketed to be an anti-pollution/anti-environment situation, it doesn’t have any SPF, which I think is odd. You’d think if you’re trying to make something defensive against the environment, you’d include at least some SPF. And I wear a separate SPF, so I don’t usually mind when my foundation doesn’t contain any. However, like I said, I compared this to the Complexion Rescue which I use as a tinted moisturizer/SPF when I’m not wearing heavy makeup. That’s what I wanted from this, but didn’t get it because it lacked the sunscreen.

Application was tricky. When I applied this for the first time, I used my beauty sponge, which I usually like with my foundation. I HATED that method with this foundation. It almost got patchy and then oxidized, which was insane. After that, I used this with brushes only–and with my fingers once, but didn’t like it. I prefer to apply this with a fluffier foundation brush like this one from Sephora.

The first time I used the foundation, I didn’t use a super hydrating moisturizer. I have a pretty normal skin type, but it was so drying. After that, I mixed a facial oil in with my moisturizer, and I didn’t experience drying after that.

I can’t figure out who this foundation is good for.

• It was drying, so it isn’t going to be good for people with dry skin–unless you use oils first.
• There wasn’t much coverage at all. It built up to about a medium coverage.
• It sank into lines I didn’t even know I had, so it’s not good if you have mature skin.
• Product clung to the dry patch on my eye lid and the dry spots around some of the raised blemishes I had. So this isn’t going to be good for you if you have raised acne or dry patches.
• When I patted powder on top, it moved in some places, so it might not be good for oily skin either.

Be even after having said all of that, there were still times I’d look in the mirror and think it was pretty. It didn’t look like I was wearing foundation yet it highlighted imperfections. On my cheeks, where I don’t have lines or blemishes, it looked really good. But ultimately that’s not good enough for me when I have other products that look good on my entire face.

the bottom line

Revlon’s Candid Anti-Pollution Foundation is definitely not the worst foundation I’ve ever used. However, I don’t think I’d recommend it.

I have other products I prefer that function better than this, in my opinion. I’ve linked a few of those below.