Shiseido • The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation SPF 17 • Liquid

PeonyRed on 5/4/2013 8:04:00 PM more reviews by PeonyRed

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

First off, I am very wary of any foundation/bb cream/tinted moisturizer, because I have endured 2 years of terrible acne, and now that my skin is doing better, I don't want to screw it up. That being said, this foundation does not irritate my sensitive skin. Which is a huge priority of mine, therefore, this foundation is already worth it's 38 or so dollars.

It is also pale enough for me. Chanel failed me, which was a surprise, as did Nars and Stila. And don't get me started on Bobbi Brown's BS of endless yellow in their products. Urgh. Shiseido, however, as it is a Japanese brand, carries very light foundations. I have this in 00, which fits my NW 15 skin tone (using MAC terms here) perfectly. It has the usual consistency of a foundation, meaning it doesn't sink into my skin and pores as nicely as some of my bb creams, yet it doesn't feel sticky whatsoever. This I accredit to its matte finish. My bb creams all had dewy finishes, so this was my first success with a matte foundation. I have normal to dry skin, and it works fine.

The packaging is very elegant and simple, very fittingly Japanese, yet the lack of a nice hygienic pump is a downside. I generally just shake the foundation, and then dip my ring finger into the clinging residue on the inside of the cap itself, which does cover my complete face. The coverage is sheer to medium, but I'd say this is for someone who has more redness than true acne. This isn't MAC, it's not heavy duty full coverage, but it's friendlier to your skin as a result. I think pin point concealing with a concealer is a better technique anyway.

I would repurchase, simply because of the color, and that it's not damaged my skin. But I'm always on the lookout for new things:)

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Ohsoangelic on 3/27/2013 12:30:00 PM more reviews by Ohsoangelic

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I adore this foundation. I have been using it for a year now, it provides medium coverage and does not look cakey as liquid foundation sometimes can. It does not break me out and it evens out my skin tone perfectly. My only advice to people would be to make sure you moisturizer well prior to applying, it helps the blending process. Also, I do wish they would change the packaging to a pump.

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surfinjan on 3/4/2013 7:26:00 AM more reviews by surfinjan

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

On the one hand, I love this foundation. On the other hand, I'm a slight bit frustrated by it.

First, let me say that Shiseido has produced some excellent skincare and makeup products for decades. IMHO, this is one of their better foundations. It is smooth, covers well, feels fairly lightweight, doesn't cause me to breakout, and adjusts to the varying oily/dry patches on my face.

It addresses most of the items I expect a foundation to handle: evening out my combination, sensitive skin, minimizes signs of aging, covers blemishes and breakouts,and hides redness. It doesn't fall into lines or create dry patches around the sides of the nose. The product would seem to address all my issues.

Except one. Certain foundations tend to flatten out Asian features, looking best if two complementary shades are worn to contour the face. This line is so good that I would be happy to use two shades. Except that I can only find one shade that matches me. It is a bit frustrating that such a good foundations works around my eyes and lighter face areas but is significantly off my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. So I wear it on half my face and use Revlon ColorStay with it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Rachel1234 on 2/21/2013 8:58:00 AM more reviews by Rachel1234

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

LOVE THIS!! I so love this foundation. I wear this with Shiseido's WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion (very light night lotion) underneath (because the wrinkleresist24 day emulsion with SPF makes me look shiny) and the finish is so nice! The combination of these two products REALLY diminishes the look of my fine lines. The fine lines on the top of my cheeks and under my eyes, and the 11 lines between my eyebrows are so much better. My skin looks smooth and younger with this foundation. It doesn't accentuate lines or pores at all. And it blends really nicely. Soft and creamy feel. I use this under my eyes as well, and it looks great - does not settle in my fine lines or anything! I love it! This foundation can be applied sheer, or built up to medium or heavy. It's not really oil absorbing, but it doesn't add oil or shine either, so it's neutral in that regard.

I found a great color match in B20, which Shiseido's website lists as "cool" meaning "pink", but I find it very neutral. I wear CoverGirl "Classic Ivory", Bare Escentuals "Fairly-Light"' and NARS "Deauville" also, if that helps anyone with color matching.

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singla on 1/7/2013 5:07:00 AM more reviews by singla

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

i used this for years, partly because i had a perfect color match, and partly because it gives a nice finish. I am moving on though because despite the claim that it is oil absorbing, it's not. it does work well on making combo skin not look combo, but not by controlling oil somehow.

it is very, very sheer. what i loved about it was you could put it on in the morning, usually it wears off by mid-day, but you can put more on if you go out at night and it does not look like you put a second coat of makeup on back makeup, it blends with what is left on your face perfectly.

good for sheer coverage, nice finish, & great natural color selection. i am just looking for something a bit more long wearing.

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krystleclear on 10/29/2012 12:19:00 AM more reviews by krystleclear

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I recently went to a Shiseido warehouse and sale and got this foundation because of the sale price. I did not really have any expectations on the product. It was also my first time using any Shiseido base product.

I was in for a great surprise. I used a damp sponge to apply it under Benefit Porefessional on my tzone and cheeks. The coverage and shade were flawless on me. I have combination skin with dry cheeks and it was able to address the nuances of my skin type. It did not make my tzone more oily and there were no flakes and redness on my cheeks. In fact, it really looked like second skin. It has a matte powdery finish on me and it felt so light on my face.

Another thing that I love about it is the fact that my face and my body matched. I have cool undertones on my face and warm undertones on my body. Since I got the I20 shade, it was able to neutralize my face's skin color and matched it to my body.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tinkerrbelle on 9/14/2012 8:59:00 AM more reviews by tinkerrbelle

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Its marketed as a long lasting oil-free balancing foundation for normal to combo skin with anti-aging Hyaluronic Acid. It applies perfectly and quickly with moderate buildable coverage, no shimmer and a beautiful, beautiful satin glow finish. It really looks like perfect skin not foundation. No annoying scent, doesn't highlight imperfections or pores, doesn't shift into lines. However it has 2 problems. I would not call it "long-lasting". I simply have to set with alot of powder or it transfers like crazy onto telephones, clothing, jewellery. I've never had this happen before although my skin is slightly oily. The 2nd thing is it oxidises moderately. Not as high as MAC foundation or Maybelline, but enough for me to stop using it.


GUIDE TO PICKING YOUR SHADE:
- The first letter is the undertone O, I or B, and the 2 numbers after the letter indicate the shade depth, 00 being the lightest and 60 or 70 the darkest.

- Shiseido, like many asian makeup call strong yellow undertones "Ochre" or O series. Western makeup is more like to call these "warm".

- Balanced neutral undertones are called "Ivory" shades whether fair or deep. They are slightly on the yellow side of neutral to suit the typical Japanese complexion. These shades begin with an I (its not a one its a capital i).

- Strong pink undertone shades are called "Beige". These start with "B". Western makeup usually called these cool shades.

eg The shade "O20" is called "Natural Light Ochre" and is a yellow based shade around NC15 - 20.

eg The "I00" shade is called "Very light Ivory" and is the lightest neutral shade.

eg "B60" is the deepest pink-based shade (or maybe B70)


EDIT: I still use the Shiseido The Makeup Foundation brush (the one that looks like a tightly packed mini stippling brush) that I got with it and it applies ANY brand of liquid or cream makeup like a high end one. I've found a better foundation is also made by Shiseido which is under their cheaper "Za" line. It doesn't oxidise and still looks great and has the same skincare benefits of Hyaluronic Acid.

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n00m on 9/11/2012 12:21:00 PM more reviews by n00m

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

this is my favorite foundation, perhaps HG? maybe I will find a better one in the future, but so far no other foundation has surpassed this in sheer awesomeness. I've been using this for the past 2-3 years and it is amazing. it is lightweight and wears all day for me and I rarely have to blot, if ever. does not really need touching up either (on me at least, I see that some of the people here wouldn't agree). the coverage is light-medium which is exactly what I'm looking for and looks very natural! it doesn't have that "I'm wearing makeup" thing going on. the only problem with this product is the lack of dispenser, but I don't really care that much for it. would be nice though!

I've tried quite a few other foundations, and I've always found myself going back to this. B60 looks perfect on me! anyhow, I'd definitely recommend this foundation to you, especially if you're asian! BUT, do feel free to message me with foundations that you find awesome and would recommend because I'm still willing to experiment and try other products haha

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littlecutefishy on 8/3/2012 7:18:00 PM more reviews by littlecutefishy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

this felt very lightweight and like my own skin. does not oxidize(on me, at least) and a small amount can cover your whole face, so the bottle can last for a while :). downside is that it doesnt have a pump so you have to dip your finger in since it doesnt pour out because its thick. also, this doesnt offer lots of coverage, light coverage, i would say. it is able to cover slight redness but cannot conceal blemishes or freckles well, no matter how much i build. i probably will not buy it again since im aiming for good coverage, but this will suit people going for light coverage and good quality. it was quite expensive (maybe just in new zealand) but as i said, the bottle will last you for a long time. not bad overall, i guess :)

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kaaary on 5/11/2012 12:48:00 AM more reviews by kaaary

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I picked up I40 and it looks very orange on me... I wasn't aware of the letterings and I thought it was simply the number "140". In hindsight I probably should have picked something in the "O" range... anyway aside from my poor choice of shade selection, I found this foundation to be very drying and highlighted all the dry spots on my face. I do NOT recommend this for anyone with dry skin.

I'm going to try this again in the summer when I'm a little tanner and when my face isn't dry anymore. I have high hopes since it got so many great reviews on here! :)

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lovebuzz on 4/14/2012 2:53:00 PM more reviews by lovebuzz

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

PROS: Coverage is not too much, not too little. Is VERY buildable. You can also mix it with a facial moisturizer to get a more sheer effect. Have used for 3 years in the past and never broke me out

CONS: made me look orange. (Have tried 3 shades now) EXPENSIVE ! I paid 40 bucks for this bottle.

BOTTOM LINE: I stopped using this product [after being loyal to it for 3 yrs] because within a few hours of using, it oxidized on my face- my forehead would have a ton of foundation in the middle and the rest of my face would look like it had nothing on it- it also darkens within time so my face would always be darker then my neck during the day TERRIBLE && embarrasing. It also made me SOOOO oily in my T-Zone. I have switched to Mac foundation and have been using it now.

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paneradfisk on 4/12/2012 8:16:00 PM more reviews by paneradfisk

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I love the wide shade range, that's the main reason I bought it at the first place. The coverage is according to me light to medium and it gives a dewy finish though it doesn't last long, even with powder. It kind of melts of and if I accidentally touch my face it smudges off. After a couple of hours the most of the coverage is gone and what's left is an oily film with some flakes that didn't even show before I put it on. Worth to mention is that I'm not even oily...
Conlusion;
The coverage is okay, the bottle is horrible (without pump), it doesn't last long on my face, the bottle is empty within three weeks. Big plus for the shade range, though.

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kimmington on 4/5/2012 6:44:00 AM more reviews by kimmington

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I really love this foundation... The first make up product I have tried from Shiseido, and it does not disappoint! It goes on smoothly, and offers a very nice coverage without being too heavy. I bought #120 Light Ivory and it was a perfect match for my skin (except when I got a little tanned in the summer of course)!! I have very oily skin though, and I found that by midday my skin would look pretty shiny and I would have to touch it up, although on less hot/humid days it was fine. I bought this in Australia, and for some reason it is SPF 15, not 17, although I don't really think this is a problem at all.

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Vibrant77 on 4/1/2012 12:41:00 AM more reviews by Vibrant77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Good shelf life. After a few hours it felt like there was a film on my skin although you couldn't see any visible issues.. For that alone I had to rate a 3. Its medium to fulll coverage, matte, and Deep ochre matches medium olive skin almost perfectly. SPF makes you come out with whiteface in pics, which sucks.

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doristam on 3/13/2012 4:06:00 AM more reviews by doristam

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'd been using I4 for years until I realized that the shade was too pink for me! I went to a Shiseido counter and the sales lady picked out I2 for me and it balanced by yellow undertones much, much better. Overall, I was really about that. I like the natural coverage of this foundation without being cake-y. It's a little sheer and good for my combination skin, covering the occasional dry patch really well. My t-zone gets oily by mid-morning which I correct with the powder compact also in I2 and it does the trick. I've found that any liquid foundation won't be perfect because, of course, it's liquid and will let oil come through no matter what (unless you finish with powder). Overall, I'm happy with this brand and tend to buy all my make-up from Shiseido as their colors compliment my Asian skin well.

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lilianrubyrose on 3/6/2012 11:50:00 PM more reviews by lilianrubyrose

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I was a sworn MAC fan for 10 years but over time, I thought my colour just looked dull.

Then I made the switch to Shiseido. This foundation lasts and sinks nicely into skin, giving a nice matt finish.

Nice base to work with other cosmetics eg. eyeliner, concealer, blush.

Noticed a massive difference going from MAC to this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bernsie on 3/3/2012 1:44:00 AM more reviews by bernsie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other, Medium   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this Foundation. B60 is the perfect shade for me. Even out in mid afternoon bright sunlight I cannot see where it ends and my neck begins. I don't bring this below my jawline either, I guess I got lucky w/the shade as their colors are limited. It's interesting as I've the Powder version of this (Sheer Matifying Powder Foundation) and I had to use it in one shade lighter B40. I like both, but prefer this, the liquid formula. It slides on like silk. A little goes a long way though I'd call it Medium coverage if I just apply a larger quantity rather than building layers I can get it to a more full coverage. Just depends on how much you initially use. I think the pigments are ground fine as it looks like skin as opposed to makeup. It's not greasy whatsoever though niether is it dry. It finds a happy medium which suits me perfectly. It wears quite long, longer if you powder it down. It takes me through an 8-10 hour day easily, still looking "just applied." There are certainly less expensive bases, but I don't like them as much in any of the features I care about. There are more expensive foundations out there and I Would Not say I like them any better than this. Highly Recommended as with most Shiseido products.

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jjenny on 2/29/2012 6:40:00 AM more reviews by jjenny

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

its an ok product... i get oily even though the lady at the counter says it controls oil. i like it because i dont break out from it but i guess if oil is coming out and its sitting on my face i will break out eventually. jus dont use this in summer time!

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lonic on 2/18/2012 5:32:00 AM more reviews by lonic

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This foundation is way too yellow and dry for me. I can make it "kinda" work with a damp sponge, but that makes it too heavy.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Journey03 on 1/4/2012 10:50:00 PM more reviews by Journey03

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I got this in O60 and although it looked great at the dept store it was totally wrong for my skin tone. The O40 was too light and the O60 was too dark.. i needed something in between but their color range is very limited. I had to return it the next day.

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