Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation Review
After a good week of wearing this foundation, I feel confident enough to give my final verdict. I first discovered the Oxygenetix Oxygenating foundation a few years back through a beauty magazine. Back then it wasn't as mainstream as it is now and I had no clue what shade I would be. It remained one of those products that made it into my ever expanding wishlists on my iphone every season in the hopes i would find my shade one day and purchase. Then in July i discovered an amazing UK retailer that did sample cards!
Living in a remote village means that most of my beauty shopping is done online. I rely on other blogs and Youtubers foundation reviews to help me guess my shade in a foundation (Saaammage, Makeup Sessions and The Beauty Look Book are all around the same skin tone as me, so i usually wait until they have reviewed a product before guessing my shade. Because of this it often means I'm never early to the game when it comes to testing and reviewing new base products, unfortunately. It doesn't help that 9 times out of 10 when i go to a beauty counter the women ALWAYS match me wrong! I get home and the products are always too dark and I've wasted my money, and i have to resell for pennies on depop. Thank goodness for blogs hey?!
I discovered retailer Health & Beauty UK through Instagram initially from their Clinical grade skincare. One day I left a comment on a photo of theirs showcasing the Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation saying that I've been wanting to try it for years but had no clue as to what shade i would be. They very kindly replied saying that they have sample cards and would generously send one out to me. I honestly don't know any other retailers/businesses who do this! It's refreshing to find a business with amazing customer service. No snarky 'we don't do samples' comment that you get from beauty advisors on the shop floor, triggering my anxiety. Just a good all round shopping experience.
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation Claims:
Conceals and camouflages skin imperfections while boosting healing
Ceravitae Complex supports skin cells and aids collagen formation and connective tissue growth
Perfect coverage for rosacea, redness, acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and other blemishes
Vitamin E promotes healing of the skin
Aloe Vera Barbadensis calms and soothes skin while supporting healing
A breathable mesh network gently bonds to skin and promotes oxygen uptake
Doesn’t smudge due to sweat or humidity
Water and transfer resistant (swim up to 90 minutes)
SPF 25 UVA/UVB protection
Stays on all day – no need to reapply
Non-irritating and non-comedogenic
Hypoallergenic
SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection Paraben-free
Certified Cruelty-Free and Vegan
The brand states that the Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation can be applied immediately following C02 laser resurfacing, micro-needling, chemical peels, injectables, IPL, laser hair removal and other procedures to conceal any redness, scarring or bruising. It allows the skin to breathe. If it's good with medical procedures, it makes sense that it would be good for everyday skin issues like rosacea & dermatitis, cracked dry skin and the joys of ageing. They even have a Salicylic Acid-based Oxygenating Foundation specifically for those with acne-prone skin. The prime ingredient in this foundation is the pro healing patented Ceravitae, which is a supercharged oxygen complex that helps to promote collagen cell production and connective tissue growth. Meaning it not only aids in healing but promotes more youthful results. Other ingredients include Aloe Vera which is soothing and provides anti-bacterial qualities, Grape seed extract, Green tea, Hyaluronic aid, Salix Alba Extract and Glycerin.
The foundation is available 14 shades. It states that 7 are yellow base colours and 7 are blue base colours and they mix well together. Personally, i felt all the shades i tested leaned very warm. Which is great if you have a warm undertone, bad if you lean a little cooler. My undertone is more neutral but i can get away with yellow-based foundations. It's definitely not an all inclusive brand when it comes to the shade range. The shades Taupe and Creme match me best at my current summer shade. Ivory will more than likely be my winter shade, don't let the shade names confuse you. The foundation shade i have is Creme, and at the end of the post i show comparisons with my other summer foundations. I'm an NC30-35 in the summer for reference. All of the ingredients are sourced in the USA and are made in Beverly Hills, California. Each bottle contains just 15ml of product and has a 24 month shelf life with the Expiry date printed on the bottom. It comes in an airtight pump that prevents the product from breaking down or becoming contaminated. The packaging is plastic and compact making it perfect for travel or living in a makeup bag.
Full Ingredients list: Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Isododecane , Titanium Dioxide (and) Methicone, Polyglyceryl -4 Isostearate (and) Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol (and) Hexyl Laurate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, PEG-8, Dioctyldodecyl Dodecanedioate, Iron Oxides (and) Methicone, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Glycerine, 0-cymen-5-OL, Silica, Cyclomethicone (and) Disteardimonium Hectorite (and) Propylene Carbonate, Maris Sal, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer.
Cosdna Results
Foundation Performance
The foundations formula is lightweight. Its not thick but it's not overly runny either. The consistency is the same as the Too Faced born this way foundation. Initially, it feels a little tacky when first applied, however, this does disappear after a few minutes. The formula is not at all drying, in fact, i find it makes my dry areas (around my nose & mouth) look and feel less dry. On first application it gives a light-to-medium coverage, however, it is buildable and layers beautifully without looking cakey. It makes my skin look flawless, with the exception of my under eyes, which always look dry no matter what. A lot of foundations congest my skin and cause me to break out, which this does not. It's a beautiful foundation not only for the cold miserable months Britain has 80% of the year, but its equally beautiful throughout our erratic humid summers, where one minute it's windy and rainy and the next we're having a heatwave. I got to test this out throughout a heatwave and through mild, humid, rainy and sunny days. I was definitely pleasantly surprised by this foundation.
I find 1.5-2 pumps are plentiful to cover my face and bring it down the neck. The foundation blends seamlessly into the skin, leaving coverage that oddly still looks just like skin! I will say I have pretty good skin (due to a great skincare routine) so i don't have a lot of redness to cover up and I like my freckles to peek through. It has a water-resistant formula which I have tested to confirm. If you like to wear makeup to the gym then you would love this.
The foundation wears/lasts all day!!!! It doesn't breakdown the way some of my other foundations do. After about 8/9 hours wear i do find i get oily in my t-zone so i blot and re-powder. No powder disturbs the foundation either. It really takes to the skin and I can see why it’s referred to as “a second skin foundation”, and why it's so popular with makeup artists in film and production. Kourtney Kardashian definitely drew more attention to the foundation this year after she shared some of her beauty secrets in a Vogue Video. I will say I'm more drawn to Kourtney's makeup over her sisters as It's more natural.
Application
I've tried all 3 methods of applying this foundation: with a brush, fingers and a damp beauty sponge. Personally I find application with fingers or a small buffing brush work best. For quick 10 minute makeup I use my fingers, on day's im wanting more coverage and have extra time I will apply with my Real Techniques Buffing brush and go over with the warmth of my fingers or a damp beauty sponge to really make sure everything is blended seamlessly. Personally i feel your base is what should take the longest when doing your makeup. I would avoid applying with a large buffing/foundation brush or a beauty sponge as they would just absorb too much product. It sets giving an almost powdery finish, it's honestly very unique. I've never tried another foundation like it. It's not quite matte, but it's not overly dewy either. I've found because it's water-resistant its easier to apply my concealer first and then the foundation so that there's less creasing under my eyes.
Swatches
Foundation Results
My natural skin before foundation...
My skin after applying foundation...
The end result after finishing the rest of my face...
You can see how flawless my skin looks! I love the Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Primer underneath the Oxygenetix Oxygenating foundation, and use it in place of a moisturiser over sunscreen.
The Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation retails for:
£45 in the UK via Health & Beauty UK - Skin City UK - Dermacare Direct
$66 in the USA via Oxygentitix - Dermstore - Premier Look
Let's talk about what i feel to be pro's and cons with this foundation:
Pro's:
Buildable coverage without it looking cakey
Looks like my skin but better
Long-Wearing lasts all-day
Water-resistant
Transfer Proof
Helps to hydrate and improve dryness
Has an extra boost of sunscreen
Doesn't Clog my pores or cause me to break out
Cons:
Poor Colour/Shade choice, making it hard to find an exact skin match if your really fair or really dark
All the foundation shades run pretty warm
Quite expensive, especially in that you get half the amount of product of a standard foundation (30ml)
Not easily accessible in the UK
Can only purchase online in the UK
Overall I very much enjoy this foundation. I do wish it was more affordable and a larger bottle (30ml). However seeing that so many of the foundations I used to love no longer play well with my skin, I would definitely be willing to spend the extra money on this instead and cut down on my other foundation purchases. The flawless results and zero breakouts makes it totally worth it! I plan to share my favourite foundations for the over 30's before the end of year is up. I definitely want to try the Oxygenetix Oxygenating Hydro-Matrix Moisturiser next, especially since i have skin that easily congests and breaks out, it sounds like it would be perfect for my reactive skin.
Des Bisous
Jamey xo
Please note that the Oxygenetix Oxygenating foundation* was kindly gifted by Health & Beauty UK. This in no way reflects my opinion on the product. This is not a sponsored post. You can read my full disclaimer here.