I don’t think that the hunt for the most fabulous foundation ever stops, does it? We find things we like, but our curiosity gets the best of us and we want to try more — well, at least I do! Over the past 1-2 years my foundation testing has exploded and I’ve found some really great complexion products that fit my desired look.
I was given an opportunity to try Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation, and was excited because I haven’t tried anything from Bobbi Brown except one mascara that looked great on my lashes. If you’re wondering which one, it’s this one.
WHAT IS IT?
The Intensive Serum Foundation is a serum liquid foundation that boasts of over 25 different skincare ingredients that nourish and improve the look of your skin. At forty, I’m pretty much looking at anything to slow down the aging process. I’ve accepted it will happen, and I’m okay with it, but I see no harm in giving my skin (or body in general) some extra help in slowing down the process.
It also claims to provide 12 hour+ buildable medium coverage with a radiant finish that’s cake and crease-free. All of that sounds good, right? Of course, it sounds good! This is why I had to try it!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The foundation comes in a beautiful black glass pump bottle that has some weight to it. There is no window on the side to see how much is left which I would prefer but not a deal-breaker. I also didn’t realize this was a pump top and am very embarrassed that I didn’t discover that until a week after complaining to myself that the applicator was garbage and not a good design. I can laugh at that now but I seriously face-palmed myself for it. Turns out I was using the little tube that sucks the product up into the pump dispenser as an applicator wand. Whoops. It didn’t seem right, but I honestly had no idea!
Now that that’s cleared up, I can easily dispense the product onto the back of my hand, or directly onto my foundation brush. I use one of two different foundation brushes, my IT Cosmetics Heavenly Smoothing Complexion Brush or this one that was recommended to me from Amazon (thanks, Steph from @brighterdarling !) I do think this spread better with my IT cosmetics brush but go back and forth between the two without thinking about it really.
INGREDIENTS
The Intensive Serum Foundation ingredients were of interest to me. 25 cosmetic ingredients to improve the look of my skin? Well, let’s dig into that further because I’m sure you want to know too.
Cordyceps, a type of fungi (i think mushroom) is really the true featured ingredient here. After reading more about it, I’d like to see it in more skincare lines. Not only is it packed with antioxidants, but it also helps with skin hydrations levels, boosts collagen and elastin production, heals the skin barrier, and acts as an anti-inflammatory to fight or slow down the signs of aging. Whew!! That’s a lot for a single ingredient! I may need to look into this as a supplement….
Ginseng improves circulation which helps the chances of collagen & elastin production to occur while also boosting hydration levels of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is also included and can plump, hydrate, and smooth the complexion of fine lines forming. Glycerin is also found in the ingredient list which can help with skin moisture levels.
Vitamin E and Deep Sea Ferment are the protectors. Vitamin E is loaded with antioxidants to fight free radical damage while Deep Sea Ferment defends the skin against UV rays, HEV light, and environmental pollution while scavenging free radicals.
also want to add that while they don’t point this out, iron oxides that are used to give color to foundation also help protect the skin against HEV (blue light) so check labels if you want that protection. I learned this while researching Colorescience Sunforgettable sunscreens!
SUNSCREEN
This foundation does use a combination of physical and chemical sunscreens (octinoxate titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) to provide SPF40 which is pretty high for a foundation. I do still layer sunscreen underneath because we all know not to solely rely on the SPF in our foundation, but it’s a good way to layer up and give yourself some more protection.
I do enjoy how this applies, dries down, and looks on the skin. I would say this is a truly radiant finish over moisturized skin. So you won’t look shiny, but in sunlight or brightly lit rooms, you will see a slight reflection off the skin.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am able to get a full day of wear and don’t notice a serious breakdown on the skin by the end of the day. I do have some deep wrinkles, like my angry 11’s that may have some extra collected in there, but nothing you would notice from a decent distance. Meaning, the person you are talking to in the same room isn’t going to notice this.
The foundation does have a light clean, fresh scent to it. It doesn’t bother me, but they could probably do without. The texture is more like a traditional foundation than a serum. When I think of serum, I think more liquidy like Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint or even Laura Mercier Lumiere Foundation. This does have some thickness when it’s dispensed but makes it pretty controllable when you apply.
COST
The price is a bit high for a foundation for me. It runs $72 a bottle and I think most I purchase are around 50 or less.
Do I like this foundation? Yes. Do I think I’ll repurchase? Probably not, only because I have other ones that are less expensive and look just as great — but I will keep using this until I run out!
Purchase at:
Wow that packaging is beyond luxe, it seriously looks like a bottle of a fancy skincare serum or something. I haven’t even heard of this foundation but now I’m intrigued!
Hi, Claudia – This foundation does look highly luxurious. I have some cordyceps supplement capsules. I got them to treat post-Covid (vaccine or flu) inflammatory response. They work perfectly for that in conjunction with Japanese knockweed, curcumin and proteolitic enzymes. I also have the IT Cosmetics foundation brush which definitely does a super job. Thanks so much for demonstrating how well the Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation works for our skin! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
thank you so much for sharing about the supplements! I’m highly interested in looking for things that can reduce infammation (or stress, lol). I will look into the other things you mentioned above!
I have an earlier version without as many bells and whistles which I like a lot. It’s not heavy and lets my skin breathe.
I have a Bobbi Brown foundation that’s a few years old that I still love. This new one sounds terrific, especially that high SPF compared to the SPF 15 in my old BBrown foundation (and most of my foundations don’t have any SPF). The price is really high, but reading the ingredients that you highlighted, I guess that’s why
The packaging is ultra-luxe, and a serum foundation is just my type of product!