Review - The Ordinary Colors Coverage Foundation

The Ordinary is a skincare brand under the Abnormal Beauty Company umbrella. It provides functional no nonsense effective skin care for more than reasonable prices. So when they announced they will come out with base products, a Serum Foundation and a Coverage Foundation, I was super excited and ordered them immediately. However due to enormous demand I had to wait more than a month to get my products (still waiting on Serum Foundation) but let me tell you it was worth the wait.

Claims:
Coverage Foundations are full-coverage formulations available in a comprehensive shade range across 21 shades. These foundations contain higher pigment levels than our Serum Foundations but still offer a smooth finish that avoids the heavy makeup look that can make skin appear more aged. The texture is that of a lightweight, non-oily cream. 

The pigments used in these formulations are treated for a rich, highly-saturated effect. These pigments are suspended in our proprietary spreadability system that allows pigments to look natural on the skin, resist collecting within fine lines and stay on for longer. The foundations offer a semi-matte finish and are compatible with most primers and are designed to work exceptionally well with the primers offering from The Ordinary. 


Each foundation format is available in 21 shades. The shades are divided into three categories: 1 for fair to lighter tones, 2 for medium tones; and 3 for darker tones. Each category is then classified further by a second digit from 0 to 3 to indicate depth within each category. Finally, a letter is added to the shade code to identify the undertone: P (Pink) and R (Red) indicate cool undertones for lighter and darker shades respectively; N indicates a Neutral tone; Y indicates a Yellow undertone. 

I have two colors in the lightest range 1.1 N and 1.2N (my summer color). Currently I am wearing them mixed to get my perfect shade.  As with all the Ordinary products package design is very minimalist and clean, in fact making the product look far more expensive than it is. Outer packaging is thin cardboard with instructions for use and ingredients list.  

Foundation itself comes in 30 ml plastic bottle with a pump that has a lock system. Packaging is compact and travel friendly and pump is excellent as it allows for a perfect control in dispensing the product. Foundation colors are true to description provided on site. 

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation in 1.1N and in 1.2N (sorry for the ugliest swatches ever).

Application wise it goes on smooth and you can use a brush or a beauty blender to apply it but I found that I get the best results using my fingers. It does not oxidize but it is one of those foundations that looks better the longer it stays on the skin. After some 15-20 min after application it completely melds with the skin for flawless but natural appearance. It feels weightless on the face as well, like there is nothing there. Coverage is good medium but buildable without going cakey and it has velvety/semi-matte finish. It last on the face the entire day with minimal wear in the usual places, like chin and around the mouth. It does not collect in wrinkles and fine lines or around the nose, it does not emphasize pores. I found that I got the smoothest application and the best look and wear when using a silicone based primer underneath. All in all a 7 EUR foundation that behaves like an excellent 40 EUR foundation. Color me impressed.

You can try and order the foundation on DECIEM site (they have a backlog of orders) for 6.90 EUR. In my experience with The Ordinary and how popular and in demand their products are what works is just order the product or ask for e-mail notification to be sent when the product is in stock and than wait and wait. Trust me they are worth the wait. I am looking forward to my Serum Foundation arriving...eventually. 

Note: text in italics is taken from the DECIEM site