There comes a point when even the most devoted foundation wearer wants something a little lighter. I still want my skin to look as close to perfect as can be but natural and without feeling too caked up.
The original L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation has been a favourite of mine for years. The texture is beautiful, the colour match is always perfect, and it is one of those foundations I return to time and time again because I know it is guaranteed to look good. Naturally, a new addition to the True Match family immediately had my attention.
The new L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluron Tinted Balm sits somewhere between a skin tint, a foundation and a complexion balm. It has a solid, almost serum-like texture that melts into the skin, leaving behind lightweight, buildable coverage and a naturally radiant finish.
It feels exactly right for the way many of us want to wear makeup now. The aim is not to completely cover the skin, but to make it look smoother, more even and noticeably fresher while still allowing your natural complexion to show through.
Made with an 80% skincare base, the balm contains hyaluron emollients to help lock in moisture and keep the complexion feeling comfortable throughout the day. The formula is light and flexible, so it moves with the skin rather than drying down and settling into fine lines or clinging to areas of dryness.
This makes it particularly appealing for mature or evolving skin, but also for anyone who finds traditional foundation a little too heavy for everyday wear. Coverage can be kept sheer across the face before being built around areas of redness, pigmentation or uneven tone.
For the most natural finish, L’Oréal Paris Global Makeup Artist Harold James recommends warming the balm between the fingers before pressing it into the skin. A dense brush can then be used anywhere you want a little more coverage.
The compact also comes with a soft, skin-like applicator in a pointed water-drop shape, which makes it easy to reach around the nose and beneath the eyes. There is an integrated mirror too, making it an effortless product to keep in your handbag for touch-ups. I took it out with me for a day full of events and meetings and it was so convenient and felt great on the skin throughout the day.
Available in 12 adaptive shades, the formula has been designed to work flexibly with different undertones, continuing the True Match reputation for making a convincing colour match feel wonderfully easy.
The best foundations are often the ones you do not have to think too much about. You apply them knowing your skin will look good, and that has always been the appeal of True Match for me. This new tinted balm takes that same reliable approach and gives it a lighter, more skincare-led update—perfect for the days when you want your complexion to look like itself, only better.
You can purchase the L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluron Tinted Balm at Boots.com
