Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation Review With Photos

Although beauty lovers flock to tinted moisturizers and skin tints for summer, I like to stick to lightweight foundations as someone who requires a bit more coverage. However, most of my go-to foundations that deliver adequate coverage feel like they’re melting off my face in the sweltering heat. I needed a formula that felt weightless and had staying power — all while being my perfect match. That might seem like a tall order, but thanks to TikTok, I discovered that Urban Decay has the right product to suit my needs.

Urban Decay’s Face Bond Foundation ($40) has made its rounds on social media because of its extensive shade range in warm, cool, neutral, and olive undertones. The formula is also supposed to be self-setting with a blurring effect and has long-lasting wear that’s waterproof and smudge- and transfer-resistant. Not only did I find my perfect match, but it’s become a staple in my summer beauty routine, especially for those hot, humid days and on vacations. Keep reading for my full review of Urban Decay’s Face Bond Foundation.

About the Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation

What I Like About the Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation

In most foundations, I’m a neutral undertone in the tan to medium-deep range, but in Urban Decay’s Face Bond Foundation, my ideal match is shade 25 medium-deep cool olive. Finding a shade close enough to my actual skin tone is rare, and I never suspected I had an olive undertone. But this shade melts right into my complexion, becoming one with my skin.

I’m obsessed with that flawless, soft glam look, so I appreciate the natural matte finish of this foundation. I was shocked to see how skin-blurring it was without a setting powder. My complexion looks even-toned and nearly poreless. Although it may look like I’m wearing full-coverage foundation and heavy makeup, this formula is incredibly weightless, and its texture is serum-like. I’m also impressed with its staying power, especially in sweaty 80-degree weather. Although it doesn’t stay completely matte all day long (more on that later), it does stay put and won’t budge as long as you keep your hands off your face.

Beyond the formula and finish, the Face Bond’s packaging is also useful. The slim bottle is ideal for traveling, and it barely takes up space in my makeup bag. I pretty much reserve this product for traveling because every other foundation bottle is just too clunky. Its unique dropper tip makes it easy to apply the foundation without a messy nozzle or pump, avoiding accidental leaks.

How to Use the Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation

Since the Face Bond Foundation has a precision dropper, I like to dot the foundation evenly all over my face and use a dense foundation brush to blend it all out. Depending on the time of day and my skin’s needs, I’ll prep my skin with a hydrating serum or a moisturizer and then a hydrating primer, or go in with a sunscreen that doubles as a primer.

You can apply this foundation in three different ways depending on your coverage needs. If you want a more natural, skin-like finish, the brand suggests adding a few drops of the formula to your skin, focusing the dropper on areas that need the most coverage, and using a sponge to blend out. For a more medium-buildable coverage, the brand suggests using a dense brush with a buffing motion. For a fuller coverage, apply the formula directly to your face and pat it on your skin using your fingers.

The brand suggests looking at the veins on your wrist to determine your closest undertone match. If you have blue/purple veins, you’re most likely a cool tone; if you have green veins, you’re most likely a warm tone; if you have blue/green veins, you’re most likely a neutral tone; and if you have a combination of teal/blue and green veins, you’re most likely an olive tone. You can also take our skin undertone quiz to help you find your match.

What to Consider Before Trying the Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation

Although the foundation’s coverage remains intact, I do notice minor creasing around my laugh line, chin, and undereyes. A bit of the foundation also transferred from the bridge of my nose to my sunglasses. By the end of the day, my complexion did not remain completely matte, as you can see that my skin looks slightly shiny or dewy.

When I wore this foundation during water activities, it didn’t wash off completely, but if you rub your eyes or try to wipe off any excess water, it does affect the coverage. If you want to keep coverage intact while in the pool or ocean, it’s best to lightly pat dry or just let your complexion air dry to preserve it as much as possible.

This foundation is formulated for those with normal to oily skin types, but if you lean more dry, you can still use it with the right skin prep, adding hydrating skin-care products and primers to your routine.

Where is the Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation Available?

The Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation is available at Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, and the brand’s site.

Rating:

★★★★☆

Anvita Reddy is an assistant editor for PS Shopping. She has a passion for products and is an avid reviewer of everything including furniture, mattresses, home gadgets, cookware, tech, and more. Having dealt with acne as a teenager and into adulthood, her expertise lies in beauty. She has tried and tested plenty of skin care, makeup, hair care, and countless other beauty products.