I've loved Natasha Denona products since I first discovered them. Her eyeshadows are staples for me. I love her Face Glow Foundation so naturally I wanted to try the new Foundation X. Details per Sephora:
What it is:
A long-lasting, full-coverage, radiant foundation that doesn’t set into fine lines and leaves the skin with a naturally radiant, flawless finish.
What it does:
Foundation X Full Coverage Fruit Complex never looks thick, dry, or cakey on the skin. The full-coverage foundation is infused with special ingredients that help balance the T-zone area and absorb excess oils on the skin. It’s formulated to support anti-aging, and its purification properties help defend against pollution.
I grabbed shade 42 first, described as a medium with yellow undertone. That's accurate and fits a NC 30 give or take. I then grabbed shade 30, described as a light medium with orange undertones. That's accurate and fits a NC 25-30 range. I find shades 30 and 42 in Foundation X are a bit different than in the Face Glow formula. Face Glow Foundation shade 30 is too light for me, however in this version it works best for me. The Face Glow 42 is my best match, but in this formula 42 is darker and more golden.
Foundation X is medium to full coverage. It has a satin to matte finish. At first it feels more satin, but as it sets through the day it really is more matte. I tried this with my fingers, a brush and a Beauty Blender. My fingers made this too heavy, the brush was a bit streaky but doable, and the Beauty Blender which was the best for application of this foundation. This can look too cakey when applied with fingers or too heavily. So start light and build up only in the areas you need it.
This foundation does last all day, however towards the end of the day I noticed it emphasized my pores and gathered in the pores around my nose on my cheeks. Some primers like heavier silicones did make this better. I hated the feel of a heavy silicone primer with a heavy matte foundation. It's just not my combo of choice.
For me this foundation was a fail. It's too heavy for my tastes, too matte and dry. It feels like it sits on the skin versus really meshing with it. I prefer Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Foundation for a heavy full coverage formula. Magic Foundation is heavy, but it feels like skin. I'll stick with her Face Glow Foundation which I enjoy a lot.
Top to Bottom: Tom Ford Waterproof 5.5 Bisque, Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Light Medium, Natasha Denona X 30, Natasha Denona X 42, Natasha Denona Face Glow 42, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation 6, Surratt Surreal Skin 9:
Ingredients
-Grapefruit Extract: Contains natural detoxification properties that promote skin longevity.
-Pomegranate Extract: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C; helps protect the skin and regenerate skin cells; acts as a natural and strong anti-aging ingredient due to its antioxidant properties.
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Mica, Nylon-12, Cocoglycerides, Sodium Lactate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-7/3 Dimethicone, Silica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Zinc Stearate, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, Citric Acid, Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract (Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Extract). +/-: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides).