I’m not a summertime girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love picnics in the park and vacations as much as the next, but I can’t stand being hot. So, when the temperatures start to rise, I strip my makeup routine down completely, usually opting simply for under-eye concealer and bronzer for my base. The last thing I want is to be wearing a heavy foundation in the heat. But when iconic beauty brand Clinique launches a vitamin-infused formula with broad-spectrum SPF coverage, it’s time to rethink things.
Clinique is one of the OG’s when it comes to skin-care-formulated makeup. Their Even Better line of foundations has remained a bestseller for years and has evolved to include several varieties. But the latest, Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 45 ($48), is by far one of the best, if you ask me. From the lightweight feel to the brightening ingredients and SPF factor, this foundation is made to endure summer’s scorching days and humid nights. Ahead, see my full review and why I’ll be keeping it in my routine all season.
The skin benefits of Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup
One of the things that drew me to this foundation was the vitamin-rich formula. While the original Even Better foundation also has vitamin C, this formula boasts five unique forms. Two to brighten areas of discoloration and three to protect against free radicals using antioxidant defense. For anyone who struggles with dark spots, this formula is going to be a game changer, since it’s designed to work like the brand’s top-selling dark spot serum by the same name. It also includes a handful of other skin-loving vitamins like B3 to energize and E to smooth and protect your skin’s lipid barrier. Then there is the SPF, which is a nice touch for a summer foundation. Instead of utilizing just one type of protection, Clinque doubled up with a combination of physical and chemical sunscreens. The result is a foundation with SPF 45 that protects like the best sunscreens and works like a serum to improve your skin each time you wear it.
The makeup benefits
If you’re anything like me, come summer, your foundation is taking a backseat to skin tints, but with Even Better Clinical Foundation, you won’t have to worry about that. The formula is weightless, yet still provides a decent amount of coverage when applied. Think: a hybrid between a silky skin tint and serum-infused foundation. The collection includes 28 flexible shades to match varying complexions and it blends out smoothly, whether you use a brush, sponge or your fingers.
My experience
The goal of this foundation is to even your skin tone and provide a radiant finish with buildable coverage. Upon pumping it onto my skin, I could immediately tell it would be doing just that. The lightweight claim is no joke, and the foundation blended into my skin like a serum, leaving no traces of product behind. I also noticed a cooling and hydrating sensation as I continued to blend. This is a nice bonus if you tend to feel dry throughout the day, and it allowed me to skip my mid-day face mist for an extra boost of moisture.
The finish also impressed me. I tend to shy away from glowy formulas that require powder to stay in place. However, this formula gave me a subtle radiance that read more naturally dewy than moist. The coverage was fair considering its lightweight formulation, and perfect for daytime wear. Plus, it was easy to build up later in the day when I wanted a bit more coverage, which doesn’t always work with illuminating foundations.
