I love this foundation. My HG foundation with my bobbi brown skin foundation. This is a very lightweight foundation with great coverage potential and even greater staying potential. I didnt like it initially as i did a mistake of setting with powder with my dry skin. But this product works best without a powder. The only problem is color matching. They do not have a lot of actually no shade for darker skin. I got the darkest and I am medium skin toned.

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 PA +++


COVERAGE:



Provides EXCELLENT medium coverage. If I could compare it to another foundation with similar opacity, it would be Estee' Lauder's Double Wear Liquid Foundation. There's really no need to apply concealer with this, as this covers most imperfections. You can easily apply more to achieve fuller coverage, but it's probably best to apply lightly, because it may start to look quite heavy.


BLENDABILITY:


This formula is light and a bit runny, but it is highly blendable and dries to a soft, semi-matte finish that I just love. For the formula being so runny, it covers so well with so little.


COLOR SELECTION


I tried 30 and 40. The 30 shade would probably suit a light/medium yellow-toned person (NC20), while the 40 shade is more of a slightly warm, peachy tone that I found to suit my skin's color best. The 30 shade was a bit too light, while the 40 suited me just fine, although I would prefer it to be more of a yellow tone than peach. The 50 shade, from what I hear, is more yellow/golden and would complement a more olive complexion (NC30, perhaps?). I didn't try that shade, however.

The coloring system seems to cater toward the very fair to the deeper medium shades. Darker complexions may have difficulty finding a decent shade.


PERFORMANCE


The foundation does last for a long time (8hrs), however, it does make the skin oily. The oiliness, however, doesn't fade the foundation, which is strange. The makeup has strong bonding properties and it will stay if if prime your face well and then powder lightly. If you don't do the priming and finishing, then the foundation will get noticibly greasy quite fast, like within an hour or two. Keep blotting papers around for this one.


SKIN REACTION


This is what prevented me from wearing this foundation again, ever. I'm very anal about removing everything from my face at the end of the day. I made sure my face was squeaky clean after wearing the Sun Protection foundation. Because it is one of the foundations of the skin-bonding variety, I used a cleansing oil, a face wash, and a toner lotion. Although it is time-consuming, this regimen really cleanses my skin and keeps me free from breakouts and congestion. But even with this regimen, this foundation just ravaged my skin. With prolonged use, I had fat, puffy, sore breakouts, redness, and excessive oiliness. Wow, no foundation I tried (and I tried hundreds) has given me such a reaction. The only culprit I can think that caused this was an ingredient in the foundation called tournmaline, which is a crystal of sorts that is rich in minerals for the skin. All I know is that exfoliants, especially harsh, jagged, rough ones, really inflame my skin and break me out. Tournmaline, being a crystal, would probably be similar to an exfoliant and could have really irritated my face. It's just a theory, though.

While the foundation looks nice, covers immensely, and feels light, I can't sacrifice the health of my skin. If I continued to use this, then I'd start to scar. I can't recommend it to oily skin types or sensitive skin types. I'd say sample it for a week or two, and if you like it and find that it doesn't hurt your skin, then try it out.

I really disliked this foundation. I found it drying. The finish was too matte and pasty, and it really made my face look lifeless. Also, if you don't have yellow undertones, it may be difficult to get a decent match. My skin is on the cooler side of neutral (I can wear some cool and some neutral foundations) and my closest color match in this product literally made me look green. I wound up returning it.



You may like this product if:

-You have very oily skin. Then the drying wouldn't be a problem and maybe enough oil would soak through the makeup and make the finish dewier and not so lifeless?

-You have yellow undertones so finding a match wouldn't be such a problem

-You need an extremely longwearing foundation. I could put this on in the morning, work 10 hours, go surfing for 2 hours, then get home and still have makeup left on my face. continued >>

I've been using this for over a year now, so I thought it was time to update my review. I will NEVER use another foundation. If they ever stop making this stuff I don't know what I'll do. My skin is extremely sensitive and acne-prone and this is the only makeup that I would even consider putting on my skin; everything else has broken me out.

Since there are a limited number of shades I have to use SP50 and SP60 mixed together. It's fairly expensive but in my opinion, totally worth it. I usually buy it on ebay and save a few dollars though. The consistency is nice but I recommend applying it pretty quickly because it tends to dry fast. The coverage is amazing! Even though my skin has gotten a lot better I still have a lot of marks from old breakouts but when I'm wearing this makeup you can only see them in really harsh lighting.

It's 100% waterproof and sweatproof but comes off easily with my cleanser, which is not heavy duty whatsoever. It was the only sunscreen I used on my face during a beach trip and I didn't burn a bit. So, yes it gets 5 lippies and I'd give it a million if I could!

I have oily skin and live in a very humid part of the US, this foundation is the only one I have ever purchased that stayed on through the heat and humidity. I have tried so many foundations from high end Cle De Peau, La Prairie, Sisley to Guerlain Extreme, Lancome and nothing has stayed on and provided the coverage like Shiseido liquid has for me. I do like Armanis new foundation and it stays on for a full day of work but this foundation stays on longer and I do not have to worry about my foundation being gone by noon. Yes I still have to blot in about 4 hours but at least my foundation is still there. I am a NC 25 and tried the 40 but felt it looked too ghostly so I went up to 60 which too me was a warmer and better match. The colors can be tricky so its best to go to the counter and see the colors for yourself. Great foundation!
UPDATE- I love this foundation but ever since I have been using it I have had a problem with breakouts on a daily basis. If you can wear this its a good foundation.

I'm NC25/Shiseido 040, and use this in SP30, which is suppose to be strong yellow undertone. Though since my face does always appear redder than my neck, so the coloring of this foundation just didnt work that well for me. As the first time when i used this, i did not use the MUFE green primer underneath, and my face looked totally at least 2 shade darker lol The color appears fine as long as i use the green primer underneath. The formula is actually very similar to my beloved Revlon Mattifying Foundation, it is very watery when applying but will dry quickly as soon as you apply. Feel very light on skin as well. However, you will really have to apply it with a quick and light hand or you will end up looking cakey. The staying power is pretty good i would say, though everything will melt eventually during the hot 90 degrees summer anyway. It does stay on for at least 8 hrs (depend on your location setting, ac or outdoor...) Though my face still get oily within about 4 hours and need to be blotted, but i would say that is not bad at all (again, it was like 90 degree!!!) as with my regular shiseido fluid foundation, my face will probably start to get oily within 2 - 3 hours. SPF 42 is definitely a big plus. And last, i did not break out from this at all, not even a single tiny zit. You just really have to remove it with cleaning oil completely every night and you will be fine for sure (i use DHC) A definitely a must have oily gal. Since my regular shiseido fluid foundation is d/ced, so i think i might just gonna switch to this line as regular daily foundation.

This foundation was a bit dry and too pinkish on my yellow- undertoned skin. I liked the concept.. but the match was just horrible. I had to return this after someone asked me why I was so red that day.. boo!

The coverage and staying power on this product is great. I also love that high SPF, but the formula is really heavy and I felt like my pores were drowning. Great for days outside where you need lasting coverage, but not for every day wear.

OK so I tried this product for the first time today and I have to say I love it. I keep checking myself in the mirror and even after 5 hours it is still flawless. After reading all the reviews I decided to apply it with my skunk/stipple brush and the outcome was a flawless airbrushed look. I did not buy a full size yet. I received a sample of the sp 60 which looks great but I feel it looked a bit ashy before i applied my bronzer and blush so I may test out a different color. Anyway, I have tried every foundation out there... Lancome, Clinique, Benefit, Laura Mercier, Gorgio Armani, SKII...the lists goes on and on.....and I have never been this happy right from the start. I haven't even had to blot my face once today and that is a miracle for me. My skin looks smooth, my pores look invisible ( I have enormous always clogged pores) and it even covers my melasma. I didn't even use a primer today because I did not want anything to interfere with the effect of the makeup. It has not budged!!! This is definitely HG material.
UPDATE...ok so I strayed from this for a bit. For the past few months I was on an airbrush makeup kick ( tired Dinair, Temptu, Graftobian) then ultimately decided it was too much work to use and clean the airbrush every morning so I went back to my usual search for the perfect foundation. I tried El double wear and double wear light, Clarins, MUFE, Laura Mercier, Trish Mc Avoy and Stila One step, Lancome and Chanel....None of them compared to to my beloved Shiseido. My singular complaint about Shiseido is the color selection, besides that, the coverage, texture, staying power, oil control and sun protection can not be beat by anything else out there.

Wow!

I tried this based on Paula Begoun's review and all your reviews, as well as LisaSz09's. It sounded too good to be true: I need a high SPF, plus something that would be very drying for my oily skin, had good coverage, and came at least close to my skin color.

After the saleswoman put several colors on the back of my hand, I chose SP40. It is definitely lighter than what I've been wearing (L'Oreal's True Match in W3), but it matches my skin so much better. My face is paler than the rest of me anyway. Also, the W3 was too dark and orange on me. I had also been using Revlon's Active Light foundation in Sand Beige, which matches, but is too moist for me.

Here's what I love about this foundation:

1. SP40 really does match my face.

2. It has great coverage that you can layer, and it covers my roseaca and melasma great, as well as the broken capillaries on my nose.

3. It gives me such a matte finish! I've cut my powder use in half. I set it with just a little powder (Neutrogena's Mineral Pressed Powder in Classic Ivory), and then I only have to blot just a little bit during the day. This is so amazing for me!

4. I love the packaging. It won't break if I drop it, and the tube is very sanitary and non-messy. Plus, it looks like a little alien!

5. The SPF is so high, and it is all titanium dioxide, which is my preferred sunblock ingredient.

The only con is that it is expensive. I paid $33.50 USD, but it will just have to be my one splurge. I buy all my other products at the drugstore. This foundation is worth it! Also, a little goes a long way, so with all the other pluses, I think it will pay for itself nicely!

Definitely my new HG!