Combining two seemingly opposing beauty holy grails – dewy glow and matte finish – Burberry’s Matte Glow foundation is an ingenious invention
From the niche new beauty brands doing something different, to the industry’s evergreen icons, Sophie Bew opens up AnOther’s dream vanity in this series...
- Who should use it? Those who want the best of both worlds: a glowy complexion without the shine
- How long until I love it? If you fit the above description, it only takes a minute girl
- How planet-/people-friendly is it? The 30-strong shade spectrum could be a little more diverse on the darker end. Otherwise, the glass bottle is recyclable; the lid, I think, is not
- How do I use it? Apply with fingertips for natural blending
Feelings about skin make-up tend to fall into one of two camps, I find. There are those who like a “natural glow” – the natural element could be entirely faked of course but runs the gamut of IRL bare, glossy skin to concealer-only complexions, those in favour of a radiant tinted moisturiser that lets freckles show through, or a full face of make-up celestial-ised by a healthy dose of highlighter. Wherever you land on the glow scale, the priority is shine: a kind of wet look, with varying degrees of actual wetness, if you will.
Then there’s the matte kind. Shiny – and it’s lesser-sounding friend ‘oily’ – is a skin-look that the other camp avoids at all costs. Here, everyone from the barely-theres to the Kontouring-pros favours a powdery finish. Glow could of course be mistaken for perspiration – heaven forbid – or at least imperfection on a flawless face.
Such is why Burberry’s Matte Glow Foundation is distinctly intriguing. The concept positively addles my brain. And yet once applied, it cannot be forgotten. A luxe matte beige luster from which luminosity radiates? It seems incongruous but works. This is still a foundation for those who like foundation: it’s coverage is substantial, long-lasting and life-proof, so won’t suit those who prefer an I-woke-up-like-this approach. It is also a little less suitable for drier skins, since it’s so damn good at mattifying. However, stippling the fluid onto the face using fingertips will ensure a more natural look for those who prefer a lighter spread. The radiant honeyed results are perfectly attuned to Riccardo Tisci’s chic new age of beige for Burberry, thrumming with a velvety luxury that appears to gleam from within.