SOS: What Is Foundation Oxidation? (And All Your Other Questions Answered)
My name is Iain and I've worked in the Beauty Industry for 8 years now. I've been on the front line in store helping people navigate the world of skin, as well as worked in education, artistry and marketing. When I'm not writing about skincare, you can find me over at Instagram talking about beauty or working on my PhD.
Congrats! You’ve finally found your perfect foundation. You love the coverage and the finish, and the colour is a dead-set match.bBut wait … You looked in the mirror an hour later, and suddenly the colour seems darker! Yep, it happens, and it means you’ve fallen victim to the dreaded foundation oxidation.
Today, I’m going to explain exactly what foundation oxidation is, how to stop foundations from oxidising, and round up some foundation that doesn’t oxidise. After reading this article, you’ll be confident that your foundation stays the same colour from the moment you put it on to the moment you take it off.
What Is Foundation Oxidation?
You know how avocados and apples turn brown soon after you’ve cut them? This colour change is the result of oxidation. If you want to get sciency about oxidisation, it occurs when a chemical (in the case of makeup, normally one of the ingredients in your foundation) reacts with another molecule and then the process of oxidation occurs. You’ll notice that your makeup looks perfectly matched to your complexion in the morning, but after a few hours, you see your foundation oxidising orange.Once oxidation happens, there’s not a whole lot you can do to fix it; all you can do is learn how to prevent it. The important thing to remember about foundation oxidising is that it doesn’t always happen immediately. It can happen slowly throughout the day, giving you a surprise during your 4:00 p.m. mirror check.
Why Does Foundation Oxidise?
Now that you know *what* oxidation is when it comes to foundation, I’m sure you’re wondering now *why* it occurs. The primary culprit in makeup oxidation is the interaction between the foundation’s ingredients and the oils in your skin. This is why it’s not always immediately obvious that your foundation is going to oxidise when you apply it. It’s only going to happen as the day goes on and your natural oils start to break through.Additionally, foundations that aren’t stabilised with antioxidants may oxidise over time after you’ve opened the bottle. So about a year or so after you purchase your foundation, you may notice that the colour doesn’t look as good on you as it did when you first bought it. Hey, it’s a good excuse to treat yourself to some new makeup!
How to Stop Foundation Oxidising
Thankfully, there are a few tricks that’ll help stop foundation oxidising. First, be sure to always start the day with clean skin. A gentle cleanser suited to your skin type is perfect for this. Removing excess oil and debris from the surface of your skin can help stop foundation from oxidising.
If you have oily skin, a mattifying primer will work wonders at keeping your foundation the same colour all day. The primer does this by blocking the oil coming to the surface.
So now that you’re equipped with answers, let’s round up some foundation that doesn’t oxidise.
The Makeup Artist’s Secret Foundation That Doesn’t Oxidise
What it is: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk FoundationA liquid foundation inspired by the finest silks and trusted by makeup artists around the world for red carpet events. Armani’s Micro-fil technology micronises each pigment and ingredient before the final blending and milling. This process helps prevent oxidation and keeps your makeup looking flawless.
Why it’s so good: This completely weightless foundation gives you a flawless, lit-from-within complexion. Again, the special blending process helps ensure that each ingredient is perfectly coated and won’t oxidise on the skin.
The Backstage Foundation Option From Head to Toe
What it is: M.A.C COSMETICS Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer FoundationA sheer, radiant, waterproof foundation that’s designed to stay true to colour (read: a foundation that doesn’t oxidise). Studio Radiance is a backstage favourite, delivering the ultimate ‘my skin but better’ finish that evens everything out while remaining lightweight and comfortable on the skin.
Why it’s so good: This long-wearing M.A.C foundation is formulated to stay colour-true for 8 hours. The 60% water content gives this makeup an ultra-light fluid texture that glides effortlessly over all skin types and feels comfortable all day or night.
Ultra Wear Without Oxidation
What it is: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation SPF15Channelling the ultra-chic, flawless complexions of Parisian women, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear wears for a full 24 hours. This full-coverage foundation can be built up to cover everything or sheered out to look très naturelle! Resistant to streaking and caking, this retouch-free and shine-free foundation is perfect for both everyday use and special occasions.
Why it’s so good: Designed to absorb oil as it appears throughout the day, this is a foundation that doesn’t oxidise yet offers a completely flawless finish. Perfect for combination-to-oily skin types, Teint Idole is shine-free and transfer-proof.
Now that you’re a master of making sure your foundation doesn’t oxidise, it’s time to get the 411 on picking the right foundation from Meagan.
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
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