Following EX1 Cosmetics’ recent switch up of their whole existing colour range and the launch of brand new shade extensions, I thought it was about time I tried it for myself (now there’s a shade light enough! Their previous lightest was the equivalent to a MAC NC25!), and let you know my thoughts and find out if it is worthy of the hype!
Award winning EX1 Cosmetics was founded by British born Asian entrepreneur and biochemist Farah Naz, who found she was struggling to find products perfectly suited to tones like her own. The whole makeup range is dedicated to those with yellow undertones, with Farah creating products designed to mimic the natural pigments found in skin tones like her own. Developed in Milan, Italy with a team of leading scientists from across Europe, the best in cosmetic tech and highest quality raw ingredients, EX1 Cosmetics was bound to gain the cult status it enjoys today! As well as being a constant on YouTube and social media for the last few years, EX1’s fan base extends further and is a firm favourite of Hollywood A-listers, top models and beauty editors alike.
EX1 have a variety of complexion products in their range, concealers, powders, blush…but it’s their liquid foundation that they’re most well known for. I touched on it before, but they’ve recently extended their shade range, this was a long time coming! I’d heard so many good things about it, but just wasn’t able to find a shade that would be anywhere near wearable for me and I know this was the case for a lot of people. If you do have an olive/ yellow undertone naturally, or are that kind of shade due to being a fake tan wearer, this is going to be a range that suits you. Although not overly yellow, if you do have a definite pink undertone, this probably wouldn’t be for you, but neutral – yellow tones, it’ll work. Available in 14 shades, 1.0, being the lightest, to 14.0 being the darkest. Although I do get a bit of redness, my skin tone is fair with yellow/ golden undertones (NC15 in MAC) and I don’t wear fake tan, although I have plenty of foundations that do suit, I do struggle at times with foundation looking great and yellow toned in the bottle, then just going pinky and creating a subtle orange hue (not a good look!) on my skin once it’s on. I also find wearing something with a slight yellow under tone, counteracts any of my redness too. I picked up the shades 1.0 and 2.0 in this and to be honest, there’s not much in it, I can wear both.
So the EX1 Invisiwear Foundation features and claims…
➕ A lightweight feel and luminous finish
➕ Skin like, flawless coverage
➕ Ultra blendable formula
➕ Light diffusing and true colour pigments
➕ Oil free, fragrance free
➕ Long wearing
➕ Buildable coverage
My thoughts…the EX1 foundation applies like nothing else! I’ve tried applying it with a brush (Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush – Available from Beauty Bay*) and a beauty blender (Available from Boots*) and it goes on really smoothly with both, however, I do prefer using a brush. It gives a super smooth finish and really works the product in to the skin. I’m also finding the coverage is a little better with the brush too, so I don’t end up needing to use as much. I’ve tried so many other foundations that claim a ‘real skin finish’, some do, many don’t, but this actually does and for the level of coverage it gives, I feel like this does give the most real skin like finish of them all! It gives a really beautiful luminosity to the skin, without feeling or looking oily, even through a touch of setting powder (I like the Kat Von D Lock It setting powder – Available from Debenhams*) you still get that gorgeous natural glow coming through. It goes on smoothly and is really easy to blend. I’d always wear some sort of SPF day to day, but for an event or if you’re having your picture taken (I can see why it has such a huge celeb following) because it doesn’t contain SPF and has that real skin finish, it looks incredible! A great foundation choice for your kit, no flashback what so ever! I’ve tried it with and without primer and for my combo skin/ oily t zone, I don’t feel like I’d have to use primer with it, but a bit, especially around my problem/ oily t zone area, definitely makes a difference and keeps this on for longer. It lasts pretty well, wouldn’t be the longest lasting foundation of all time, but that’s expected with the type of foundation/ finish it gives and my skin type. It still lasts the whole day, with a few blot paper/ powder touch ups throughout (which I’d do normally anyway) and only begins to wear off around my chin and sides of my nose (typically areas I touch, a lot!) when it’s time to remove it.
The EX1 Invisiwear foundation has been used for and credited in so many editorial shoots/ images recently as well as being a hit with makeup artists, it has beauty editors raving about it too (it’s one of Glamour magazine Beauty Director, Alex Steinherr’s favourite foundations) and is supposedly Britney Spears’ ‘go to’ foundation on tour, which says a lot for it’s coverage and staying power. Adele, Nicole Scherzinger, Mila Kunis and the Kardashians are fans, just to name just a few. Am I? I am! It’s a great foundation, truly gives your skin an A list glow! I was surprised how affordable it is too, at £12.50/ €17, I was definitely pleasantly surprised for such an amazing and high end feel base! (Available now from Asos)
Now the brand carries a wider shade range and after trying it for myself, I’ll be repurchasing for sure! Worth the hype? Yes!
Lyd x
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