I Finally Tried This Iconic Estée Lauder Foundation & the Hype Is Real, People
I'm Adore Beauty's resident beauty newbie. Before working at Adore, I was travelling the world for 4 months with just one tiny tube of Jurlique moisturiser. I washed my face with warm water and used olive oil as a deep conditioning treatment. Oh, how things have changed!
Low on time? Check out our key takeaways below
Key Takeaways
- Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation is renowned for its exceptional staying power, lasting up to 24 hours without budging.
- Double Wear Sheer offers a lighter coverage option while maintaining the long-wearing, matte finish of the original formula.
- Both foundations are sweat and humidity-proof, making them suitable for various skin types, especially oily skin.
- My experience with Double Wear Sheer showed it can provide a natural finish, ideal for everyday use and casual outings.
- Event makeup is still best suited to the original Double Wear, while Double Wear Sheer is perfect for a laid-back look.
On the 15th of February 2020, my life changed forever.
Yeah, yeah, my sister got married, but way more importantly, this was the day I discovered Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation.
Having dealt with oily skin for over 30 years, I didn’t think it would be possible for my makeup to last all day and night.
The professional makeup artist applied Estée Lauder Double Wear at 10am. By 5am (don’t judge me), my foundation was still in exactly the same place as she applied it.
Well, I thought. They don’t call it “Stay-In-Place Makeup” for nothing.
Now, Double Wear foundation is my go-to weekend and event makeup.
I don’t usually use it during the week - or on my walking dates… thanks COVID - because it’s medium-to-full coverage.
I wouldn’t want my dates to think I actually cared.
So, you can imagine my delight when Estée Lauder released a sheer version of their cult Double Wear foundation.
It felt like all my oily skin summer foundation dreams had come at once, but could it be as good as (or better than) the original Double Wear?
I put it to the test to find out.
Read on for my Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer review, including my thoughts on Double Wear Sheer vs the OG Double Wear foundation.
What is Estée Lauder Double Wear?
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup Foundation is an iconic foundation.
It's also consistently one of the best-selling foundations on Adore Beauty, rated 4.7 out of five stars from more than 1,000 reviews.
I can personally attest to the staying power of Double Wear. It will not budge.
It can withstand 24 hours of wear (and heavy make out sessions, in case you were wondering), but the best thing about it is the FLAWLESS finish. See above!
What else do you need to know about Double Wear?
- Most people say it's full coverage, but I'd say Double Wear foundation delivers buildable medium coverage.
- The foundation has a natural, matte finish.
- Double Wear is ultra long-wearing, and sweat and humidity-proof. No touch ups required.
- Double Wear foundation is particularly well-suited to normal, combination, and oily skin types.
- Double Wear is $60 for 30ml and comes in 60 shades.
What is Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer?
Many sheer foundations I’ve tried have a dewy finish.
Great for dry skin, but for me, wearing a dewy foundation is like going for a ride on the Slip ‘N Slide.
I’ve always wanted something as long-wearing and flawless as Double Wear, but with less coverage for that whole “I don’t care” dating makeup vibe.
Enter, Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer.
As soon as I received a bottle of Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup, I immediately applied it and went outside to get as sweaty as possible...
This was my skin after lounging outside for a few hours.
I was, of course, wearing a hat prior to this photo being taken. And sunscreen underneath… that’s a given.
Here's what you need to know about Double Wear Sheer:
- Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer has a light, sheer coverage that can be built up for medium coverage.
- Like the original, it has a long-wearing, skin-like matte finish that's sweat-proof and humidity-resistant.
- It’s suitable for most skin types, and promises up to 12 hours of wear.
- Contains skin-loving ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, plus offers blue light protection.
- Double Wear Sheer is also $60 for 30ml and currently comes in 27 shades.
Estée Lauder Double Wear vs Double Wear Sheer.
In the name of research, I spent an entire day wearing the original Double Wear foundation on one side of my face and Double Wear Sheer on the other.
Our Beauty IQ editor Amy did the same to see how they'd wear on her dry skin compared to my oily skin.
I prepped my skin with a gel moisturiser and a shine control primer on my t-zone. I didn’t do any touch ups or wear any other makeup products.
After a long walk, I was really impressed with how Double Wear Sheer held up on my skin.
Here's a closer look at my skin before and after applying Double Wear Sheer. Not as 'sheer' as a tinted moisturiser, but lighter than the original Double Wear.
On the other hand, Amy applied both Double Wear and Double Wear Sheer over the top of a hydrating serum, moisturiser, hydrating sunscreen AND hydrating primer.
Still, she found it a bit too drying and flat.
"The satin matte finish of both formulas accentuated my dry skin texture, compared to the airbrushed, blurring effect it gives Hannah's oily skin," Amy said.
"I'd still 100 per cent use Double Wear Sheer as an event foundation or a sweat-proof summer foundation option."
"I reckon the key would be using glowy hydrating cream products like cream bronzer, blush and highlighter to give my skin the dewy, bouncy finish I love."
You can see how it all went in our Double Wear vs Double Wear Sheer YouTube video below.
My Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review..
For me, the only real difference between these two Estée Lauder Double Wear foundations is the coverage.
Both are long-wearing, both are great at controlling oil and both have that classic Double Wear flawless finish.
Amy also didn't see much difference between the finish and longevity of the two formulas, which is a win for anyone who wants a sheer coverage foundation without the dewy finish!
Honestly, choosing between these two Double Wear foundations is like trying to choose a boyfriend! I can’t. I love them both!
The original Double Wear is still the best foundation for events, weekends and dinner dates.
But Double Wear Sheer? I think I've found my new everyday foundation.
It's the best sheer foundation for oily skin. And walking date-approved.
Want more foundation reviews for different skin types? Check out these Beauty IQ articles below:
