Photo via @deceim on Intagram
This ultra-budget foundation didn’t live up to my hype
By Lauren Kelly, Graphics Manager
About a month ago, a friend of mine recommended the Deciem Abnormal Beauty Company to me. She said the serums were amazing and incredibly affordable, and their foundation was supposed to be as well. Since I’m still on the hunt for a foundation, the promise of affordable quality products was all I needed to hear to get me into their Metrotown location.
Their foundation comes in two finishes: Serum and Coverage. Of course, the former is a lighter-weight option, while the latter is a heavier variant. I opted for the latter because I prefer a more full-coverage foundation. An employee helped me pick out a colour and we ultimately chose 1.0 N, which the website describes as “very fair neutral.” I would ideally want a yellow undertone, but that option doesn’t appear until 1.2. Overall, their colour line is varied, with 21 shades ranging from “very fair” to “very deep,” and with pink, yellow, red, and neutral undertones. Additionally, a few shades have gold or silver shimmer in them.
I’ve tested this foundation for the past month now, partly on long vacation days and partly during my normal routine, and I hate to say I really do not like it. The biggest issue for me is the colour. Even though it’s “very fair,” it is much too dark for me. I’m not sure how much of that is oxidization—the process by which make-up darkens or changes shades due to extended exposure to the oxygen in the air—and how much is the colour. Either way, it does not look right, and I even tanned quite a bit this summer. I’ve also found that I’ve been getting oilier wearing this than my usual Maybelline Fit Me foundation. I use a primer, powder, and a setting spray, but I need to pull out my blotting papers by midday to keep things under control.
In its favour, the coverage is great, and while it does wear off eventually it lasts well for the price. For someone who can get a colour-match, and for someone who doesn’t have an oily T-zone, this could be the perfect budget foundation. Sadly, it just wasn’t the product for me.
If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, check out Abnormal Beauty Company’s Metrotown, Downtown, or South Granville locations. It’s pretty much risk-free since they have a generous one-year return policy and you can sample products on the spot. Also, it’s only $6.90.
