January 1, 2022

Today I tested out the Very Valentino 24-Hour Wear Liquid Foundation. Coming in at $64.00, she ain’t a cheap date! So, let’s see how we got along…

Don’t want to read all the details? Jump to the lowdown below!

The Basics:

This new foundation is described by Valentino as…

Semi matte

Buildable coverage

Long wearing (up to 24 hours…for all you party animals)

Breathable texture

Hydrating 

Transfer Resistant

SPF 26

Packaging, Shade Range, and Price:

The foundation comes in a beautiful glass bottle, with sleek red top and pump dispenser.

At $64.00 (U.S.) it’s one of the more expensive foundations in my collection…. And it gets even more interesting… I was looking on the Sephora website for how much product is contained in the bottle, fully expecting it to be the “standard” 1 fluid ounce (or 30 mil) that we foundation users have becoming accustomed to. I couldn’t find it anywhere on the site, which seemed a bit unusual. So, after pulling out a magnifying glass, I was finally able to read the bottom of the bottle which says, in very small letters, “.84 fluid ounces (24mil.)” So, just an FYI for all you penny-pinching foundation lovers out there, the bottle contains a bit less than we usually see for a foundation. To be fair though, we have been going through inflation here in the U.S. where EVERYTHING from meat, to clothing, to, yes, foundation has been increasing in price, while often decreasing in size….so… it isn’t just Val.

One area where they really knocked it out of the park though was with the shade range. Valentino offers a beautifully inclusive shade range with 40 options from light to deep, with a variety of undertones. Because this is only available from the Sephora website, I was unable to test it out in store, and was still able to get a somewhat close match for my skin. I like that they not only have pictures of the swatches, but also have pictures of models wearing each shade. I really appreciate the foundation companies that are starting to do this! It’s not a perfect system but does give an added level of comfort when attempting to pick out a shade online.

I picked the shade LN2, and although it was just a tad light, after a quick swipe of bronzer and blush, I was good to go.

Fragrance:

Yes, it has a fragrance. And yes, it is pretty. Sort of a rich-old-lady-perfume-scent. I don’t mind it, but if you are sensitive to fragrance, just a heads up.

Application:

With this foundation, a little goes a LONG way. Try not to make same mistake I made by pumping out too much, and then having to blend for a good ten minutes! I would suggest that one pump for the entire face would be sufficient. My favorite way to apply is with a beauty sponge. When I tried applying with a flat top kabuki brush, I ended up not only having to really pull at my skin with the brush, but also having to go in with my fingers afterward to blend out the areas where I put too much product, and then going in after that with a sponge to blend it all evenly. Save yourself the trouble, a damp sponge and a tiny bit of product is all you need for a smooth finish

Coverage:

This is a true medium coverage foundation. With one layer I was able to get a matte finish that evened out my complexion, while still allowing my freckles to show through. I’m a fan of the “just-right” coverage.

My Experience:

I’m not going to lie; it takes a bit of effort to blend this foundation out. But in the end, I definitely felt it was worth the effort. After applying the rest of my makeup (just a touch of powder) and a setting spray on top, I was left with a beautiful coverage that lasted ALL DAY. Not only that, but my husband kept passing me in the house saying, “you look really pretty today!” He said it in that “husband-y” way that let me know that he couldn’t tell what I had done differently, but he could tell a difference. 

This  foundation photographs really beautifully too. I took pictures in several types of light (below) and I was impressed with how “skin-like” it looked (especially for having a matte finish.)  The only exception was the picture I took outdoors. In that one, you could see just a tiny bit of texture and dryness, but even then, it wasn’t too bad.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a very long-lasting foundation, this is a great option.  I think this could work for all skin types but would look especially good on oily to normal complexions. I have normal- to-slightly-dry skin, and it worked well for me. I just had to make sure my skin was adequately prepped with moisturizer and a bit of hydrating primer. I don’t know how well this would “sit” on top of a super creamy (heavy) moisturizer, that some of us dehydrated foundation wearers need in the winter. So, if that describes you, you might need to save this formula during the warmer seasons when you’re able to wear  lighter layers of hydration underneath.

My other cosmetics layered very easily on top of the foundation, and I found that with its matte finish, I only needed the slightest touch of powder around my nose and forehead, which I really appreciated, as I like to avoid a powdery finish whenever possible.

Check out the pictures and video below. And let me know in the comments if this is one you have tried or are interested in trying out!

Swatches for Comparison (from top to bottom)

1. Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Shade: BR22
2. Maybelline 30H Shade: 118 Light Beige
3. L’oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Shade: 420
4. Estee Lauder Futurist Shade: 1N2 Ecru
5. NYX Born to Glow Shade: Porcelain
6. Very Valentino (Foundation in today’s blog post) Shade: LN2

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The Lowdown: Very Valentino 24-Hour Liquid Foundation Summary

Name:  Very Valentino 24-Hour Wear Liquid Foundation

Packaging: Square glass bottle with red plastic top, and pump dispenser. (Very pretty!)

Shades: 40 Shade options for very fair to very deep skin tones. Also, a very nice range of undertones.

Prices: $64.00 (U.S.) for .84 fluid ounces

Longevity: Top Notch. It really grips to the skin, which can make for a slightly labor intensive application process, but is worth it for the consistent, long-lasting coverage.

Sunscreen: SPF 26

Similar Foundation Formula: (in my opinion) Revlon ColorStay Light Cover Foundation

Special Mention:  

*Formulated with exclusive “Light-Lasting Technology” which delivers buildable, medium coverage that is hydrating and transfer-resistant.

*40 inclusive Shades that were tested on 5,000 women to ensure a perfect finish from the lightest to the deepest shades.

*From Sephora.com

Who might love this:  I think this will appeal to a wide range of foundation users. (Those with very dry or textured skin, may find it more difficult to work with.) I see this working especially well on normal to oily skin types. Those who have long work (or school) days and don’t want to fuss with their makeup after applying in the morning. Those who like a matte finish, but don’t want the full coverage that normally accompanies a matte finish.

Very Valentino Foundation in Different Types of Light (No Filters!)