What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?
Double Wear Fan Girl Badge ?️?? unlocked!
The original Double Wear Stay-in Place liquid foundation is an O.G. cult classic, and it’s gotten mad love in gazillions of reviews. Basically, you can’t turn a corner without someone practically warbling a ’90s love song about it.
All my life, I’ve waited for
That’s why I waited a hot second to put it through its paces and make sure I wasn’t just falling for the hype.
Now that I’ve been using it a few times per week for a couple months…ya know what?
I totally get it now. It’s really THAT good.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ($42 for a 0.1-oz. glass bottle)
But before we even get into how perfectly it sits on different skin types (mine is a HELLA fussy combo of oily, dry and normal areas with a sprinkle of acne-prone spots along my jawline, and my skin loves it), this foundation is already a winner-winner-chicken-dinner for me. It’s oil-free, truly transfer-proof (so no makeup on your favorite Price tee, hooray!), fragrance-free, and — get this — available in a staggering 56 shades.
By comparison, Fenty has only 40.
“Only,” she says, ha! Remember when the biggest department store lines had maybe 14 at the most? How things have changed!
What it is
A 24-hour-wear liquid makeup with a flawless, natural, matte finish that unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium to full coverage.What it does
Double Wear makeup gives you 24-hour staying power for a flawless, natural matte finish. This foundation unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium-to-full coverage. The makeup feels lightweight and so comfortable, you won’t believe it is super long wear. The non-acnegenic formula won’t clog pores, which may help avert breakouts, and helps control shine. It’s waterproof, won’t run, rub off, or smudge and lasts in hot and humid weather.Double Wear comes in Cool, Neutral and Warm undertones with shades that have been blended so they won’t look grey on deeper skintones.
What else you need to know
This product is fragrance-free and has been dermatologist tested. It is oil-free, mattifying, transfer-resistant, dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free.
My shade is Honey Bronze, which is a smidgen warm for my (MAC NC42) skin at the moment, but it’s darn close, and even though it isn’t spot on, I’m OK with that because it doesn’t oxidize, which has always been my biggest issue with this type of base. It’s really hard for me to find a matte liquid foundation that doesn’t darken as the day goes on, and this one stays true to the original color.
Ingredients:
Water\Aqua\Eau , Cyclopentasiloxane , Trimethylsiloxysilicate , Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone , Butylene Glycol , Tribehenin , Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate , Magnesium Sulfate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Polymethylsilsesquioxane , Methicone , Laureth-7 , Xanthan Gum , Alumina , Sodium Dehydroacetate , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Cellulose Gum , Propylene Carbonate , Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate , Phenoxyethanol , [+/- Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499) , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)]
But here’s the best part! Not only is Double Wear Stay-in-Place flexible enough to wear at medium coverage, you can also ramp it up to full-coverage “Beyoncé backup dancer/Kabuki performer” levels to cover up EVERYTHING. It completely disguises hyperpigmentation, acne scars and uneven tone. And then on top of that even-toned goodness, you can still pile on the fixings (powder, bronzer, blush, highlighter), and your foundation will still look flawless. Not fake, thick or caked-on.
How does Double Wear Stay-in-Place compare to the other Double Wear Foundations?
I’m still working my way through the collection, but here’s what I can say so far…
- Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 — Stay-in-Place is medium-to-full coverage with a matte finish, while Nude Water Fresh has light-to-medium coverage and a satin finish. I think Nude Water Fresh is a better fit for straight-up oily skin, but Stay-in-Place should work well for all skin types.
- Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick — Stay-in-Place’s matte finish looks more formal than Cushion Stick’s casual, sheer coverage and glowing finish.
- Estée Lauder Double Wear Light — Of all the Double Wear foundations I’ve tried so far, Stay-in-Place is closest to Double Wear Light. They both feel like nothing on my skin and should work for all skin types, but Double Wear Light has a little less coverage (it’s sheer to medium) and a satiny finish, while Double Stay-in-Place covers EVERYTHING and has a matte finish. Both are top notch, though.
There are lots of great bases in the Double Wear line, but Stay-in-Place is a standout if you’re looking for a flexible, comfortable, long-lasting foundation you can wear on just about any occasion.
The hype is real.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Great comparison–Thanks!
Your skin looks so fresh,healthy and glowy in the photo. I think I need to go to the EL counter near me and check these foundations out.
What’s the best primer to wear underneath this foundation?
Hi Kelsey,
It depends on what you’re going for. I use smoothing primers and like it with Urban Decay Urban Defense Complexion Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30, but it really enough smoothing on it’s own to not need a primer.
I’m so glad this is working for you. It’s awesome when products live up to the hype. 🙂
It really is a lovely foundation and I love it on you, but my skin breaks out every time I wear it. I’ve since discovered I’m very sensitive to silicones and that stuff is in EVERYTHING!
It is my go to special occasion foundation. I just wish it would feel more lightweight.
Interesting review, I bought this years ago having fallen for the hype but ended up complaining to EL Customer Services and got a refund. An EL make up artist in store colour matched my face and it looked fab, in daylight at least. I took a selfie with flash hours later to see how it was holding up on my oily/combo skin and was horrified to see it looked ghost white (like plaster that workmen use smeared over my face!) So if you’re not planning on being photographed with it, fine but if you want flashback in photos and to look vampire like, it’s not good. This is due to the titanium dioxide in it which was surprising as its towards the end of the ingredients list. Since then I always photograph the foundation before purchasing. I now use Fenty Beauty’s foundation which is fab – along with all the things I’ve bought from this range!!
Hi Sooshi,
That’s the beauty of having so many choices now, right? If something works for someone but doesn’t work for you, you can always turn to another line to find a solution.
I’ve taken flash pics (heavy flash, too) and flashback wasn’t an issue. 🙂
Hi Karen, just noticed that your bottle of double wear stay in place doesn’t have SPF in it, my one had SPF10, so it’s probably different in the UK. https://www.johnlewis.com/estee-lauder-double-wear-stay-in-place-foundation-makeup-spf10/p90279
Absolutely, you’re right, so much choice and good to experiment! You’re a great writer and I enjoy your blog, you’re responsible for me buying 2 chanel eyeshadows a few months ago, I got desert rouge single and terre brulee cream single and the quality is superb! Thank you. 🙂
Hi, Karen! Love your blog and your reviews since we have exactly the same skintone!! ? However your face on the photo for this DWear Stay-in-Place Matte doesn’t look matte at all. It almost looks exactly with the same dewy finish as in your picture for the DW Nude. I use the DWear Matte over the Becca Backlight Primer, and literally drench it with UDecay All-Nighter Setting Spray after a quick Guerlain Meteorites swipe, and I can never get it to turn dewy or more fresh and skin-like, as you look in the photo. It looks very dry, almost dull matte – and my skin is normal to oily! I have also tried Mac P+P before the primer, and nothing. What setting spray do you use? Any suggestions? After reading your reviews in these DWear, I just ordered the DWear Light to compare and test with the matte. Also, what is the other shade you mention you use in the DWear Light aside from Honey Bronze? Thank you!! ?
Hi Karen! I love Estee Lauder foundations and am looking for light to medium coverage. Unfortunately I’m allergic to an ingredient in the Nude Water Fresh, but they Stay in Place does not break me out. Have you ever tried mixing the Stay in Place with another product (luminizer, Advanced Night Repair) to change its coverage? Thanks! Taylor
Hi Taylor,
I haven’t, but I’m sure it would work with something like MAC Strobe just fine. Have you ever tried Double Wear light (the one in the tube)? IT IS SO GOOD. I wear it even more than the original Stay-In-Place!