Clinique Even Better Foundation Is a Low-Coverage Gem That Checks All My Boxes
Light coverage, real-skin finish.
This article includes affiliate links.
Most people mistakenly assume that a foundation that covers everything is the best one. In reality, a high-coverage foundation can be really high maintenance, requiring precise application, blending, setting, and several touch-ups. That’s why low-coverage foundations, in my opinion, are severely underrated. They’re incredibly versatile, easy to use, and skin-friendly. That’s why I’m diving deep today into my favorite low-coverage foundation, ever! Read on for my full review of the Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum Foundation SPF 15 and why you shouldn’t sleep on this gem!
Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum Foundation SPF 15 Review
Texture and Blendability
This is a liquid foundation with a very runny texture. It comes in a tube and you don’t even need to squeeze out the bottle to get the product, it’s that runny!
The consistency of the foundation is like a liquid moisturizer, which makes it incredibly easy to apply and blend no matter what tool you use to apply it. So it feels very hydrating.
Ingredients
I actually bought the foundation because of the way it looks and I didn’t even know how rich the ingredient list was. Turns out, this is a vitamin C-infused foundation that aims to reduce the visibility of dark spots on the skin.
It also has hybrid sunscreen, which is both mineral and chemical, with an SPF of 15. It’s not much but it’s a start. Even though I don’t purchase a foundation with its ingredients in mind, I’m relieved that I’ve been using such a skin-focused formula.
Also, even though the foundation contains silicones, it doesn’t feel like a heavily silicone-based formula. And in case you’re wondering about irritation or potential breakouts, I’ve never experienced anything like that. My skin is sensitive and I have no problems with the formula.
Coverage
Clinique says this is a moderate coverage foundation. I think this is a low-coverage foundation but it’s incredibly buildable. It means that you can apply more foundation and actually increase coverage, which is usually not as easy as it sounds.
So what can you do with this level of coverage? You can even out your skin tone, cancel out minor dark spots and skin redness, and achieve a healthy level of coverage.
I can do all these thanks to the buildable formula. Moreover, the coverage is enough to reduce the appearance of my large pores.
Finish
I’d say the foundation has a natural finish, neither matte nor radiant. But because this is a very lightweight low-coverage foundation, whatever kind of makeup prep you do in advance actually shines through instead of getting lost under your foundation.
So for example, I love prepping my skin with dewy finish products, especially in winter. So I apply a radiant finish sunscreen and an illuminating primer, which makes my foundation look more dewy and luminous.
If I don’t apply anything particularly radiant, then my makeup looks soft and matte. So the finish works both ways. This is another advantage of low-coverage formulas that I think a lot of people are missing out on.
Shade
My shade for Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum Foundation SPF 15 is CN10 Alabaster. This is the same shade I use for the other Clinique foundations as well.
I have medium skin with neutral undertones and I also tend to tan a lot in summer. While I use the foundation comfortably in winter, I prefer mixing it with the Clinique Face Gelee in summer when I want to darken my foundation shade to match my skin tone.
Either way, I’ve never experienced any oxidation. The shade stays the same all day without fading or turning orange. Note that the shade range is pretty wide and you’re guaranteed to find one that works for your skin.
Application
I’ve used a beauty blender for application and also tried applying the foundation with my fingers. But my favorite tool has been my Chanel Les Foundation Brush N100.
It’s a flat brush and it just helps me spread the product evenly. Regardless of the tool though, the foundation warms as I blend it on my skin and just looks seamless, skin-like, fresh, and natural without leaving my skin patchy or streaky.
Wear Time
Though the foundation doesn’t offer an airbrushed finish to begin with, I end up keeping the same natural, fresh-looking face all day. Clinique ensures a 24-hour wear. I don’t know about 24 hours but I know that it holds really well.
On a side note, I have smile lines and a prominent chin crease. So these are the areas that crease the most when I wear makeup no matter what foundation I’m wearing.
The same thing happens with this foundation too. But it doesn’t look cakey or patchy because of the light texture. So about a few hours after I’ve first applied the foundation, I do a little touch-up and just dab my fingers on my smile lines to blend away the crease.
How It Looks
In the below image, I’m wearing the Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum Foundation SPF 15 in the shade CN10 Alabaster. The first picture is foundation only topped with Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer under my eyes.
The second image is after I apply my favorite bronzer, the Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker, to complete my makeup. As you can see, it does look like I’m wearing a base product but it doesn’t look like foundation at all!
Though I have redness from rosacea, you can’t see any redness even if the coverage is low. The pimple on my chin is visible but it’s not super noticeable.
There are tiny creases on my forehead which makes my skin look natural instead of heavy. Overall, I absolutely love how my makeup looks.
In Case You’re Wondering…
Shop Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum Foundation SPF 15
