Do we like new BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation? Yes, yes we dew-y. Because — oh, my goodness! — the finish is so dewy and so glowing that I’m crediting it for almost singlehandedly lifting me out of my mid-winter funk and propelling me toward summer.
Aqua Luminous is the latest foundation in BECCA’s permanent line and, as you can probably tell from its name, it’s one of those thin, serum-like foundations with a watery consistency that have been muy popular at the moment.
Typical of foundations with this kind of formula, it comes in a glass bottle with a dropper, but BECCA tweaked that idea a little by giving this one a special cap. When you twist it, a button pops up in the middle, and pressing it dispenses the product from the dropper.
Ooh! Fancy!
I’ve tried a couple of these serum-like foundations before — I think the one by Dior is great, as is this one from MAC — so I was psyched to also try this one.
Where does it stand with those two? Well, I think it stands TALL, especially if you like dewy finishes. Dior’s has a more matte finish and the fullest coverage; the one from MAC has more of a semi-matte finish and a medium coverage, and BECCA’s has the sheerest, dewiest finish, meaning that it reflects more light than the other two.
The look really reminds me of the look I get with NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, except that Pure Radiant does provide more coverage.
Now about that sheerness… This stuff definitely doesn’t cover every freckle and mole, and it reminds me of something from back in they day… I don’t know if you’ve been following BECCA for long, but waaaaaay back (years ago), they had a foundation system with a very sheer tinted moisturizer you’d use all over your face. Then you’d use a stick foundation to pop a little more foundation on all the places where you wanted more coverage. Then you’d set everything with their loose powders, which were AMAZING, by the way! I hope they bring those powders back someday…
Anywho! The idea was natural-looking skin that looked right at home, whether at the beach or the grocery store, a.k.a in everyday life.
Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation reminds me of that old tinted moisturizer.
BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation: the shades
Fair — Fair with neutral undertones
Light — Light with neutral undertones
Beige — Light/medium with neutral undertones
Medium — Medium with neutral undertones
Tan — Medium/tan with neutral undertones
Warm Honey — Medium/deep with neutral undertones
Dark Golden — Deep with neutral/golden undertones
Deep Bronze — Deepest with neutral/golden undertones
I think the finish is what many people will like about this: we are talking DEWY. Like, it can venture into “editorial” (air quotes) magazine territory, where it can start to look…how shall I put this? — greasy? (If you aren’t careful.)
But if you can find the right mix, the finish can look incredibly natural, like you’re straight chillin’ at the beach eating a shave ice without a care in the world…
I’ve tried it with a bunch of different primers and powders (my shade’s Medium, and I’m a MAC NC42 for reference), and my favorite way, where the finish is delightfully dewy but not shockingly shiny, is when I start with a pore-blurring primer underneath (and I like Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer for this).
The reason? Because this foundation by itself doesn’t “disappear” my pores as much as I’d like, so I want the extra skin-smoothing help.
Then I set the foundation with a semi-matte powder (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Tan), and this is crucial because without the powder, the finish can look borderline oily…
The trick is to just use the powder where you really need it, as opposed to all over, to balance out the shininess while maintaining the overall glowing effect. I’ll dust my forehead, then on and around my nose, my mouth and my chin.
Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation comes in eight shades that range from Fair to Deep Bronze, and a 1-oz. bottle is $44. If you like the sound of sheer coverage and deliciously dewy skin, it’s available now at BECCA counters and online.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I hear this one is supposed to adjust to each person’s skin tone…did you find that happen at all? Becca’s Radiant Satin Skin Foundation is still what of my all-time favorites and it mega-bums me out that it’s not around anymore. I’m hoping Aqua Luminous helps fill the hole in my heart, but my hopes aren’t terribly high given my need for green foundation. I’m a huge fan of Becca Mineral Powder Foundation and use it for setting frequently…did their loose powder compare? Curious minds want to know! 🙂
The finish is definitely beautiful! My skin is more on the dry side and I don’t need much coverage so I’m looking forward to trying this. I can’t wait for my store to get them!
You look amazing, Karen! Then again, you’ve got your own glow going these days.
I’m disappointed in the shade offerings- I saw other swatches online which told me that Fair is way darker than NW15. I’m guessing ladies on the dark end of the complexion spectrum will face the same issue in reverse. Here’s hoping that more colors launch soon!
Foundation twins!! *fistbump*
But then I’m SOL with this foundation 🙁
It’s funny how for most brands “luminous” equals “dewy”. I prefer my foundation velvety/semi-matte, so I don’t think this one’s for me. I guess I could use mattifying powder on top, like I do with my YSL Touche Eclat foundation, but it would probably defeat the purpose.
Unfortunately I don’t have skin that can pull off a sheer finish foundation, and the dropper dispenser system is another deal breaker for me. I’ve also had a better experience with coverage with my matte foundations. Looks like a nice product for gals and guys who can pull it off though! Wish I could “do” the “dew!”
I have the MAC one, and it is just about as dewy as I can take. After powdering my t-zone that is. I know that dewy skin isn’t going anywhere with spring just around the corner, but I will always be a matte kind of girl.
I love that they have deeper shades as well. And I’m all about sheer foundations, so bring it on!
Ahhhhh this is so gorgeous on you. You look so radiant! I’ve had my eye on Laura Mercier’s Candleglow foundation, but then Becca dropped this seemingly out of nowhere and I can’t decide. Love that everyone’s finally embracing the dewy foundation trend though!
I can see why you’re so excited by the finish. It’s dewy perfection! Thanks for the extra tips, as well.
I love the idea of dewy but I’m too oily to pull it off. Maybe when I get older, my T zone will dry out a bit. 🙁
I totally remember that foundation! I used to use it-both the TM and the stick. I *LOVED* it, and have loved Becca ever since. I’ll probably stick with NARS pure radiant for now though, since back in the day I didn’t need as much coverage as I do now! (ugh, age spots and post pregnancy melasma!) might be worth a sample from Sephora though. Also thanks for tip about the mac powder. I’m actually shopping for a new pressed setting powder to take on vacation next month. I usually use cover FX or MUFE HD loose. But we are going to Hawaii, and I want to take the bare minimum/simplify as much as I can. Was thinking of the mac prep+ translucent or Laura Mercier pressed (the one that is slightly green since I’ve got a little redness). But I do like the idea of a bit more coverage from a powder….hmmmm.
I may have to get this just because it is so hard to find foundations with neutral undertones. I love the glowy look, especially since my skin has become more normal in the past 6 months. What setting powder would work well with this?
I need this in my life! I’m not sure if the lightest shade will be a match for me. I used to love the sheer foundation they made. I wore the lightest shade and then I topped that with the stick foundation in Banana which was too yellow and dark for everywhere on my face but it was genius for pinpoint concealing redness and dark spots as well as under eye issues.
Needing a pore reducing primer makes me wary but I’ll try it without first. I need to get my hands on Tatcha’s new sunscreen to test and those might be a good duo for me.
i have dry skin, so i think i would like this .
your skin looks healthy & glowy .
love the lip color you’re wearing , btw !
This looks beautiful on your skin! I can’t really do sheer and dewy though. I like my foundation semi-matte with medium coverage. I might try the one from MAC instead.
What lipstick are you wearing? Love it! You looks amazing!
I am also a NC42 I was wondering if you have tried the becca multi tasking powder and if you could share what shade. I am conflicted between beige, tan and warm honey!