Finding a transfer-resistant long-wear foundation often feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. I cringe whenever my five-foot frame leans in to hug someone because I undoubtedly leave a part of my face on their shirt. But it doesn't stop there—I've spotted my foundation on the pages of my planner, light switches, and parts of the wall simply because my foundation transfers from my skin to other surfaces.
In my quest to find the right foundation for mature skin, I'm primarily looking for something to combat my naturally oily skin. It's a sad-but-true fact that excessive oil can open pores and clog them with dead skin and bacteria, eventually leading to blackheads and pimples. Although clean, moisturized skin is vital to my makeup routine, a breathable foundation that won't clog my pores is crucial. So, when I discovered that L'Oréal Paris' Infallible 32-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation boasts a transfer-resistant, non-comedogenic formula with up to 32-hour coverage, I had to give it a shot. Women's Health recently named the foundation its best drugstore foundation for mature skin, so it has to be good.
L’Oréal Paris Cosmetics Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation
Why The L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation Is Worth It
Many foundations proclaim long-lasting formulas offering a buildable coverage that won't clog your pores. While this might be true, it's hard to beat L'Oréal's Fresh Wear Foundation—here are some features that separate it from the rest of the competition.
A little goes a long way
The lightweight formula has a smooth, silky texture that easily glides on the skin. A nickel-sized amount of the foundation is enough to coat your face with medium-to-full coverage, making it perfect for a "no makeup" makeup look. Adding an additional pea-sized amount will give you full coverage, depending on your desired look.
The formula has SPF
If you're obsessed with maintaining a youthful glow, using products with SPF can slow down the skin-aging process. The Fresh Wear Foundation is formulated with SPF 25, providing an extra shield against the sun's harsh UV rays. So, if you often forget to apply the right amount of sunscreen to your face in the morning, this foundation acts as a 2-in-1, providing great coverage and protection.
Great bang for your buck
Let's face it: finding makeup products that work best for your skin is an investment. Lots of trial and error goes into selecting the must-have items that make it into your daily beauty regimen. I love that this drugstore foundation is reasonably priced and packed with nourishing benefits. I feel good knowing there's a product that protects my skin, won't clog my pores, and doesn't transfer for less than $20.
How I Used The L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation
Having a fresh, moisturized face is key to a flawless application. Before using the foundation, I completed my full skincare routine using Urban Skin RX's cleanser, toner, undereye cream, and OLAY's Super Serum and Super Cream moisturizer. I let the products set on my face for an hour, allowing them to absorb fully, before applying One Size's mattifying primer to smooth out my skin.
Matching my foundation shade from website swatches is my weakness, but after observing L’Oréal’s 40-shade collection, I landed on Copper (515) and Sienna (520). Both shades were a match, with Copper complementing my pale winter complexion and Sienna matching my sun-kissed summertime glow. I filled in my brows while giving the primer time to grip and poured a pea-sized amount of L'Oréal's Fresh Wear Foundation in shade 515 Copper on the back of my hand, dabbing it onto my skin with my makeup brush for an even distribution.
Once I applied the foundation, I added Nars' Radiant Creamy Concealer under the inner and outer corners of my eyes, the bridge of my nose, around my nostrils, between my eyebrows, above the center of my upper lip, and the center of my chin. I sprayed my face with setting spray and waited three to five minutes before blending the concealer on my face to allow the product to set on my skin, providing better coverage and concealing dark spots.
After blending the concealer, I applied Laura Mercier's Translucent Medium Deep Pressed Powder to soak up any lingering oil on my face. I added a touch of blush to my cheeks and the tip of my nose. I concluded with my final setting spray application before adding The Lip Bar's Bawse Lady Matte Lipstick to complete my look.
I wore the L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation for approximately 12 hours and was impressed by how great I looked by the end of the day. The foundation provides great, buildable coverage that smoothly coats the skin, and a nickel-sized amount of the product is enough to pull off a full beauty beat.
Marsha before (left) and after (right) using the L’Oreal Infallible Up to 32 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation.
The Bottom Line: Is The L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation Worth It?
Although the foundation claims to be transfer-resistant, I noticed makeup fingerprints on the pages of my planner. (That being said, I applied a translucent pressed powder, so it's unclear which product is responsible for the transfer.) However, I did see reduced shine on my T-zone, which is a major win. Using this foundation in tandem with an efficient primer, translucent powder, and setting spray will likely further minimize shine if you have oily skin.
Compared to other brands, L'Oréal's Fresh Wear Foundation is worth adding to your makeup routine because it provides all the must-have qualities of a great foundation like a lightweight formula, breathability, SPF protection, and overall coverage—all for under $20. With shades representing the deepest melanin complexion to the fairest, L’Oréal offers a wide range of options for all skin types. And if you struggle with shade matching online like I do, you’ll find their skin tone swatches helpful.
This product comes as close to a winner as you can get, IMO!
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Marsha Badger
Marsha B. is a freelance journalist and Senior Fashion and Beauty editor for HelloBeautiful. The seasoned writer has been featured in a number of publications, including Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Blavity, and Fashion Bomb Daily.When she is not writing, she enjoys traveling the world and creating the life she has always wanted.
Reviewed byBrian Underwood
Beauty Director
Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.
