Review: Second Skin Foundation by 100% Pure

 100% Pure is a brand that creates totally natural and toxin-free fruit-based makeup and skincare. I’m personally in love with many of their products, and I wanted to share with you my experience with their latest innovation: Second Skin Foundation, a serum foundation that feels and acts like a second skin. This is a 100% natural and vegan make-up product with zero synthetic molecules or nasty chemicals.

The product: Second Skin Foundation by 100% Pure

100% Pure creates a lot of products thanks to their unique patented systems. This foundation is elaborated with a new ground-breaking ingredient: A base of olive squalane.  

Squalane is an oil naturally produced by our bodies that helps protect
your skin by keeping it flexible and locking in moisture. Olive squalane is an all-natural superstar is an anti-aging that’s very similar to the skin’s structure. This means:

• It’s highly absorbed.
• It’s high in anti-oxidants (olive oil is one of the best things you can put on your skin and in your food.)
• Helps prevent UV damage.
• Promotes cell growth.
• Has anti-bacterial properties.

To complete the formula, the olive squalane is blended with pure fruit
pigments, which contain concentrated anti-aging antioxidants and
vitamins, to create a healthy and luxurious make-up. When I recently interviewed Susie Wang, the CEO of 100% Pure, she explained to me that her aim is to create luxurious formulas using only natural ingredients.  I could feel she was especially proud of this product, because it’s not easy to isolate pure fruit pigments in a way they can cover the skin without using nasty synthetics as binders.

My experience: Sand shade in an extremely dry skin

My skin is very dry and it usually doesn’t tolerate make-up really well because it literally makes me flake off. I’m more of a BB cream or tinted moisturizer person.

Bad Skin Days: Better stay off any foundation

Depending on the day, Second Skin Foundation really helps my needs. And why do I say depending on the day? Because with this foundation you have to work really fast. A bit of product goes a long way, and I prefer applying it with clean fingertips to break down the minerals and help it melt with my skin. The problem with this application method in an extremely dry skin is that bad skin days (aka when I resemble a snake shedding) doesn’t tolerate it. In bad skin days my flaking skin will show, and I’m way better off with no make-up at all.

To be fair, my bad skin days are very few and far in between. However,
if you suffer from extremely dry skin you might want to moisturize
intensely before using Second Skin Foundation. I found a good hydrating
oil usually does the trick for me, although in some extremely bad days that’s not enough.

Good Skin Days: My go-to foundation

This Second Skin Foundation swatch shows its buildable coverage properties. I applied a very thin layer on my clean skin and I got a nice, even tone. I have very dark veins, which shows how sheer a coverage it provides after one application.

On the other hand, on good skin days (meaning when my skin looks almost normal) this product is wonderful. It really melts on my skin, feels extremely comfortable, and gives a “second skin” look that I really favor. I have quite a few beauty spots on my face and this product doesn’t cover them up with a weird fake-ish color. My skin just glows with a uniform color and a flawless finish.

It really is amazing how natural Second Skin looks; I wouldn’t be surprised if Korean ladies adopted it for their famous no-makeup look! Plus, it really lasts long and doesn’t leave traces behind, so it fades off the skin uniformly (there is nothing worse to find that your skin has “eaten” the makeup on your forehead while your cheeks still carry it!)

On a side note, and after using this product for a straight month, my bad skin days have diminished. I don’t know if it was because I needed to put a bit of practice in the application or because the wonderful olive oil squalane was helping restore my epidermis. Whatever the case, I can proudly say my skin looks more beautiful!

Second Skin Foundation by 100% Pure wins extra awesomeness points for boasting a totally natural formula. Yep, no nasties or syntetics inside. Because my skin is dry and tends to absorb more product than a normal skin, I find it very important to use gentle formulas that won’t irritate my skin or worsen my dryness. Besides, its formula acts as a primer, so there is no need to use silicon-based nasties to achieve a perfect look.

The deets

• Second Skin Foundation by 100% Pure launched on february on EVINE live ($45) and will be available soon at 100% Pure’s website and the brand own retail stores.

• Second Skin Foundation comes in five different shades (fair or creme, light or sand, medium or golden peach, tan or toffee, and deep or cocoa.) Although I usually go with the Sand shade, I sometimes mix it with Golden Peach to achieve a sunkissed look.

• Because you can build your coverage, it’s important to start with a thin layer and work it very well so the minerals break down and spread evenly. Don’t worry if at first the product looks too light for your skin, it will eventually reabsorb and readjust to your skin tone (that’s at least what happens with me.) However, it’s important to shake the bottle very well prior to using it.

Have you tried Second Skin Foundation yet? What are your thoughts about this all-natural serum foundation?