Over the past couple of weeks, I've been testing out the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation, Correcting Concealer and Healthy-Glow Foundation. I purchased these at a 20%+10% discount at the last Watsons members' sale. I don't have the exact prices but I'll check and update the post accordingly. The Serum Gel Foundation is around S$33 before discount.
The Healthy Mix range boasts "natural" formulas with a multitude of fruit extracts that are supposed to be good for the skin. For example, 96.8% of the ingredients of the Healthy-Glow Foundation is of natural origin. However, the Healthy-Glow Foundation pot (5g) came without an ingredients list, which I found to be disturbing. The label merely states that the powder contain "radiance-boosting" apple, apricot, melon and ginger extracts and has a matte finish. According to the Bourjois Japan website, the Healthy-Glow Foundation has SPF6/PA++ but this is not stated anywhere on my pot, which is made in Germany.
I got the Healthy-Glow Foundation in T51, which is the lighter of the two shades available in Singapore. It goes quite well with my skintone and gives a slightly pinkish peach tint. Used on its own, it provides sheer to medium coverage. I didn't quite like this powder because it can't last through a whole day of wear on my oily skin plus it tends to clump together. I have to tap the brush several times to ensure that only a light layer of the powder remains on the brush, otherwise the powder flies all over and lands on my shoulders and chest instead!
Fortunately, the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation worked much better. The vitamin-rich foundation is supposed to instantly blend onto the skin, for an even, very natural semi-matte finish that lasts up to 16 hours. The hypoallergenic, paraben-free and oil-free formula contains lychee, goji berry and pomegranate extracts. It does contain silicones and denatured alcohol though so ladies who are sensitive to these ingredients may wish to look elsewhere. It has a lovely fruity scent which dissipates quite quickly after application. The Bourjois Japan website states that it has SPF10 PA++ but again, this is not stated on the bottle.
Despite the name, the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation is not really a gel. It feels like your typical light liquid foundation. If applying with only my fingers, I find that one pump gives way too much for one application. However, if I'm applying it with a foundation brush or sponge, then I usually need 1.5 pumps for one application. My favourite way to apply this is with my Etude House foundation brush and then blend with my finger for a seamless finish. The foundation is very easy to blend, provides decent coverage and surprisingly good oil control. I start to get some shine on my T-zone only after about 3 hours. I also like the natural finish which is not too dewy and also not overly matte.
The Correcting Concealer didn't impress me though as it's too sheer to cover my dark circles completely. It contains apricot for boosting radiance and raspberry as a "micro-circulation activator". Both the concealer and serum gel foundation are made in France.
In the pic below, I'm wearing the serum gel foundation. I think it is one of the better drugstore foundations that I've tried and well worth checking out for ladies with normal to oily skin. Plus it's quite affordable as Watsons, Robinsons and John Little often offer a 20% discount on Bourjois. However, the shade range is very limited with just 3 shades available in Singapore (5 in Australia and 4 in Japan) and there is no SPF level stated on the bottle.
The Healthy Mix range boasts "natural" formulas with a multitude of fruit extracts that are supposed to be good for the skin. For example, 96.8% of the ingredients of the Healthy-Glow Foundation is of natural origin. However, the Healthy-Glow Foundation pot (5g) came without an ingredients list, which I found to be disturbing. The label merely states that the powder contain "radiance-boosting" apple, apricot, melon and ginger extracts and has a matte finish. According to the Bourjois Japan website, the Healthy-Glow Foundation has SPF6/PA++ but this is not stated anywhere on my pot, which is made in Germany.
I got the Healthy-Glow Foundation in T51, which is the lighter of the two shades available in Singapore. It goes quite well with my skintone and gives a slightly pinkish peach tint. Used on its own, it provides sheer to medium coverage. I didn't quite like this powder because it can't last through a whole day of wear on my oily skin plus it tends to clump together. I have to tap the brush several times to ensure that only a light layer of the powder remains on the brush, otherwise the powder flies all over and lands on my shoulders and chest instead!
Fortunately, the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation worked much better. The vitamin-rich foundation is supposed to instantly blend onto the skin, for an even, very natural semi-matte finish that lasts up to 16 hours. The hypoallergenic, paraben-free and oil-free formula contains lychee, goji berry and pomegranate extracts. It does contain silicones and denatured alcohol though so ladies who are sensitive to these ingredients may wish to look elsewhere. It has a lovely fruity scent which dissipates quite quickly after application. The Bourjois Japan website states that it has SPF10 PA++ but again, this is not stated on the bottle.
Despite the name, the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation is not really a gel. It feels like your typical light liquid foundation. If applying with only my fingers, I find that one pump gives way too much for one application. However, if I'm applying it with a foundation brush or sponge, then I usually need 1.5 pumps for one application. My favourite way to apply this is with my Etude House foundation brush and then blend with my finger for a seamless finish. The foundation is very easy to blend, provides decent coverage and surprisingly good oil control. I start to get some shine on my T-zone only after about 3 hours. I also like the natural finish which is not too dewy and also not overly matte.
The Correcting Concealer didn't impress me though as it's too sheer to cover my dark circles completely. It contains apricot for boosting radiance and raspberry as a "micro-circulation activator". Both the concealer and serum gel foundation are made in France.
In the pic below, I'm wearing the serum gel foundation. I think it is one of the better drugstore foundations that I've tried and well worth checking out for ladies with normal to oily skin. Plus it's quite affordable as Watsons, Robinsons and John Little often offer a 20% discount on Bourjois. However, the shade range is very limited with just 3 shades available in Singapore (5 in Australia and 4 in Japan) and there is no SPF level stated on the bottle.
15 comments:
thanks for the review. i will check out these foundation when I go to UK in August. I really love Healthy Mix. It's a HG. I'd love to see how the Serum works.
The foundation looks good on you. Thanks for the review.
The Healthy Mix is a very good foundation. Will check out the serum.
hi! been following your blog for quite some time. notice you have a lot of products that u your buying just for reviews? are you going to sell anyone of them? if yes i suggest you do a blog post of sale items!
I've got the serum FDT, and I love it! I only regret that we don't have the powder version here :(
Thank you for the review and pictures. Like Jojoba, I also love the original Healthy Mix so I will be very curious to see how it compares.
I am very surprised that there are only so few shades available in Singapore. Bourjois is one inexpensive brand that, from my experience, seems to have a fairly comprehensive range of foundation shades.
i noticed that u put on blusher not at the apples of your cheek. any particular makeup technique for this? i always thought it'll be more natural to put it more to the front.
Oh no... Why does it have to be Bourjois again? It is so hard for me to get it where I live... :( I guess my shopping list gets longer and longer. lol
I'm wondering why the colors look so different when it's supposed to be the same shade?
Thank you for NOT limiting your articles to swatches.
That last picture is stunning, I wouldn't have guessed the foundation would turn that way from the swatches.
hi Jojoba,
I read on BritishBeautyBlogger that the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation will be launched in UK only in October. Perhaps Malaysia already has it since it seems to available in Asian countries already.
h Jacqueline,
Thanks and you're welcome :-)
hi Jamilla,
I haven't tried the original Healthy Mix foundation but have read many positive reviews of it.
hi Rachel,
I don't sell my makeup although I do have a lot! I don't buy them just to review 'cos I do actually wear makeup almost every day unless I don't go out.
hi Eli,
I think the liquid foundation is much better and longer lasting than the powder foundation. I do use the powder foundation sometimes on top of the liquid foundation.
hi Cecilia,
Bourjois' foundations in Singapore are usually available only in 3 shades, even though there are more shades available in other countries.
hi Von,
It's not any particular makeup technique, just personal preference.
hi Cream puff,
Not sure why the shades are slightly different but when applied, they all look alright.
hi Elly,
Glad you find the post useful! :-)
Hi there,
I think you'll enjoy the Healthy Mix Foundation. I started off with that and I love the oil control. My skin is very much like yours, and i don't wear any primer under the foundation. I'm usually in too much of a rush in the mornings to bother with a primer.
The Healthy Mix Foundation wears well, provides more coverage, and I love that it does "pool" into my gignormoua pores at the end of 12 hours.
Hope this helps!
Bourjois's makeup are affordable n the quality are good. Super love their foundations & loose powders.
Do you know if the regular Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation is paraben free? I would really appreciate finding out!
hi EmmeFatale,
I'm afraid I don't know about that.
It is very interesting that the concealer is darker than the same shade of foundation... I use Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation too, and I love it!
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