Latest news with #JacquelineKilikita
Refinery29
3 days ago
- Health
- Refinery29
Clinique's New Foundation Feels Like A Skin Tint — But Wears Like Makeup
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. When it comes to iconic American beauty brands, Clinique is firmly on my Mount Rushmore — to borrow another made-in-USA metaphor. Some of my most formative beauty memories revolve around Clinique: Growing up, I'd often accompany my mom to the impeccably lit Clinique counter at our local mall department store. (If I were on my best behavior, I'd get to keep the free gift-with-purchase bag of minis as a reward.) Years later, the brand is still one of my mom's go-tos — and mine, too. From the epic resurgence of Black Honey lipstick to the hydrating Moisture Surge skincare, the brand isn't lacking in bestselling products — and I think I just found a new one in the making. Enter: Clinique's new Even Better Clinical Foundation, which combines sheer coverage with broad-spectrum SPF 45 protection. If you've ever tried the brand's Even Better Clinical Serum, you know that the brightening benefits are next-level; IMO, if that serum had a baby with your favorite skin tint, the result would be this foundation. It's super lightweight and feels like skincare, but adds a sheer, buildable amount of coverage that never looks like makeup — just naturally radiant, healthy skin. I don't necessarily need my makeup to do my skincare's job, but I do love that this stuff contains loads of ingredients that I'd normally find in serums and moisturizers: There's vitamins C and E to brighten and strengthen skin, plus vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide) to keep pores clear. Plus, it's waterproof, sweat- and humidity-resistant, oil-free, and non-comedogenic, so it shouldn't break you out. I love a lightweight, buildable foundation, and this one immediately impressed me. It's got a bit of a dewy finish, which normally wouldn't work with my oily skin, but this makeup hits a perfect sweet spot of glow that makes me look like I just left the spa, not a workout. I use two pumps of product to cover my entire face, and mix the shades Light Medium Warm 1 and Light Medium Warm 2 to get my perfect match. (Because the sheer coverage is flexible, multiple shades in the 27-shade range could work across multiple skin tones. I'm just a perfectionist.) Happily, our beauty director, Jacqueline Kilikita, found a perfect shade match in Light Medium Cool 1. 'At first swipe, I was taken aback by how perfectly shade Light Medium Cool 1 matched my skin tone — it disappeared instantly and blended in seamlessly with a brush,' she says. She used the website's handy QR code, which matched her effortlessly and seamlessly. When it comes to coverage? 'It's pretty weightless but subtly blurred the post-acne pigmentation on my cheeks and softened the look of my dark circles,' she adds. 'I'm hopeful the added vitamin C will help brighten things up even more, which makes me excited to keep using it.' My favorite way to apply it is with a fluffy brush using lightweight strokes, and then setting with loose powder on my T-zone.) Since my skin is oily, I found that I could boost the longevity by following up with setting powder and setting spray, but how well it lasts might depend on your skin type. Kilikita has skin that's on the drier side: 'That's thanks to using strong retinoids recently, so my skin drank this foundation right up,' she says. 'I think that's why the finish leaned more matte than dewy on me, which I actually prefer in the summer. It makes me look and feel fresh.' If you're looking for full coverage, you might prefer Clinique's Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation, which has similar skincare benefits with medium to full coverage. That said, I loved the Even Better Clinical Foundation for an everyday beat. It's as lightweight as a skin tint, but with more pigment, and plays nice with concealer for extra coverage where needed. At $48, it's priced on par with my mid- to high-end foundations, and certainly feels like a luxury product. My new go-to summer foundation? You're looking right at it.
Refinery29
23-05-2025
- Business
- Refinery29
Merit's Tinted Sunscreen Is So Good, It's Replacing Our Usual Makeup
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Finding the perfect skin tint takes a lot of trial and error. A good one should offer lightweight coverage and a natural finish that subtly enhances your skin, without sitting heavy or erasing your features. Add reliable SPF protection (which can complicate the texture of the formulation) to the list of requirements, and the search gets even more challenging. So when Merit Beauty unveiled The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45, $38, a tinted mineral sunscreen that offers both sheer and buildable coverage, not to mention broad spectrum UV protection, we were quick to take notice. This new launch is a labor of love from the brand by all accounts. It took two years of development and more than 50 formulation attempts to get the consistency and finish just right. The sun protection comes from zinc oxide, a mineral filter that shields against UV rays by scattering and reflecting them away from the skin's surface. Also featured in the ingredient lists are moisturizing plant-derived emollients (in place of heavy silicones) and ultra-fine natural powders for a weightless and even application. We got our hands on this highly anticipated launch and have been wearing it as our go-to SPF over the past month. Read ahead for our honest thoughts on why it deserves a top spot in your summer beauty routine. Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45, $38, in shade 24 'I don't say this lightly: this is hands down the best tinted sunscreen I've ever tried. It's replaced my foundation — and even my concealer. The texture is like a lightweight lotion, and whether I use my fingers or a brush, it melts into my skin easily, offering medium coverage that blurs dark circles and the marks left behind by breakouts. The finish sits in a cozy space between dewy and matte, so I don't need to powder over the top, and the staying power is excellent. I can go a full day at work — in office air, no less — and come home to more or less immaculate coverage. 'On my hand, shade 24 skews a little pink, so I was apprehensive it wouldn't suit my green undertones. But once on my face, it blends seamlessly into my light olive complexion, giving it a more uniform appearance without erasing my features. If I wanted to wear this on its own without blush or bronzer, I absolutely could, and it wouldn't look like I was wearing a mask. One thing to note: it's important to use a dedicated sunscreen first. Yes, this contains SPF 50, but it's well known that we rarely apply enough SPF makeup (a teaspoon or two finger-lengths for face and neck) to properly protect ourselves from UV damage. So I layer it over my trusty sunscreen — it's like insurance for my skin.' Venus Wong, senior writer Photo: Courtesy of Venus Wong. 'To me, the hallmark of a truly great sunscreen will always be whether I'm willing to wear it on an unbearably hot day. Anything that feels too heavy and icky breaks me out and will promptly get the boot. I took The Uniform out for a whirl on my recent travels around Asia, where temperatures hovered around 90°F with super high humidity, and I'm happy to report that it passed with flying colors. Out of all the sunscreens I've tried, this one has one of the most imperceptible textures. The carefully calibrated formula has definitely made a difference here; it feels very light and powdery and spreads evenly across the skin. There were days I almost forgot I'd put this on, if not for the flattering glow it imparts. For me, shade 22 provides the ideal level of coverage: just enough to neutralize redness and blur blemishes while maintaining a genuine skin finish. When it gets really hot this summer, I feel comfortable ditching all my other makeup and just wearing a layer of this tint, with my trusty Dr. Jart+ SPF stick as the final touch.' L'Oréal Blackett, Editor, Unbothered She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45, $38, in shades 10 and 12 Photo: Courtesy of L'Oréal Blacket. 'I'm not the easiest to please when it comes to skin tints with sunscreen. With a medium-deep skin tone and a golden to neutral undertone, some skin tints tend to leave me with a grey-ish, dull finish — a familiar story for anyone with brown skin. This is not the case with Merit's tinted sunscreen. This formula blends with my skin beautifully, slightly evening out my skin tone and leaving a fresh glow. It's barely perceptible and doesn't look like I'm wearing any makeup, but that's the point. It is very lightweight and perfect for everyday wear — I've even been wearing it to the gym. However, I still need to go in with a concealer as it doesn't blur my dark undereyes and blemishes. Vanese Maddix, contributing beauty writer Photo: Courtesy of Vanese Maddix. 'The Uniform has quickly become a staple in my routine. The formula is lightweight and blends effortlessly into the skin. As someone who prefers her skin tints and foundations to sit on the lighter side, this ticks all my boxes. While I typically dislike when brands describe their shade ranges as 'flexible', I was pleasantly surprised to find I could actually switch between shades 6, 8, and 10, depending on the look I wanted. I also appreciate that the deeper shades are numbered first (a thoughtful detail that didn't go unnoticed, and one I wish more brands would adopt). 'My only critique is the packaging: The tube has a gray-ish tint, which makes it harder to see the true shade without swatching. The cap also falls off quite easily. It's worth noting that the brand has created a shade range that corresponds with The Minimalist, its bestselling complexion stick, so finding your perfect match is a lot easier when you happen to own the latter. This product has shot straight to the top of my makeup bag thanks to its lovely finish and genuine lightweight feel. I wouldn't rely on it alone to meet my recommended SPF protection, but it has become my go-to for layering over a trusted sunscreen.' Tanyel Mustafa, senior writer Photo: Courtesy of Tanyel Mustafa. 'Let's start with the positives. This is a lovely formula. The tint gives just the right amount of coverage, and it dries down on skin while still appearing hydrated and fresh. I love how easy it is to apply with fingers. Where this product falls down for me, though, is in the very pink-leaning shade range. As a yellow-olive girlie, I found all of the shades I could make work too pink. Even the shade that corresponds to the Merit foundation stick I have (which I've used for years) is more pink. With this new product being a tint, the off-undertone shade isn't a dealbreaker. Once it's blended out with the rest of my makeup, it looks fine. But I wish I could apply this more confidently and without other makeup to offset the wrong undertone. Merit team, if you're reading this: The yellow-olive girlies would love a shade expansion!'
