Welcome to Unfiltered, where we give our honest, no-B.S. reviews of the most buzzed-about beauty products, brands, and services on the market right now.
It’s been a little over a year since Allure ‘s founding editor Linda Wells launched her makeup line: Flesh. The highly-anticipated release included products created for all skin tones, from blushes and lipsticks to a stick foundation that’s meant to look like, well, skin. The original foundation delivered on its promise, with editors and customers raving about the blending power and concealer-like coverage. With the success of the Thickstick, it was only a matter of time before the brand delivered another formulation.
Well, that day is here, and Flesh just launched its Pure Flesh Foundation — a medium-buildable coverage, liquid formula that comes in the same 40 shades as the Thickstick. With the help of industry experts and makeup artists, Flesh created this product that has a skin-care-first approach with ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and squalane. It’s also formulated without silicones, talc, or mineral oils, and it’s cruelty- and fragrance-free.
With all the goodness that this formula promises, we knew had to give this launch a try. So, we asked a few R29 staffers to pick our their perfect shade and test out this liquid foundation, which launched today. Read their unfiltered thoughts, ahead.
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Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Cafe
"I knew if this liquid foundation was anything like the Flesh Thickstick Foundation that I would love it immediately. Well, I was right. This sunk into my skin quickly. The day I tested it out, it was 95 degrees outside and the foundation actually lasted through a sweaty commute underground. By midday in the office, my skin had a nice healthy glow that looked like my skin but better." — Channing Hargrove, Fashion News Editor
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Honey
"I have high expectations for most foundations, which is probably why I rarely use them. My picky qualifications are as follows: diffuse redness, blur clogged pores, and camouflage hyperpigmentation — all while still looking like I’m wearing nothing at all. Flesh’s new foundation checked every box. I wish I could say I’m pleasantly surprised, but considering how big a fan I am of Thickstick for spot concealing, this five-star reaction was written in the stars." — Samantha Sasso, Beauty Writer
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Custard
"I wore this foundation for the first time on a sweltering day in New York City. Two hours in, I told my coworker (Alessandra, another testee) that this is my ideal foundation. It’s essentially a really good tinted moisturizer. Although the coverage isn’t great (it’s on the light-coverage spectrum), it can be layered for more light-to-medium coverage.
"What I love about it, though, is that it feels so comfortable on the skin, and it perfects my skin so that it looks slightly enhanced. It’s not a matte formula by any means, so I’d definitely suggest throwing a little powder over top once you’re done applying. Once it’s set, it lasts all day on my combination skin. If you like your skin to look fresh and juicy, this is worth picking up." — Mi-Anne Chan, Associate Video Producer & Beauty Writer
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Tiramisu
"Full disclosure: I don’t usually wear foundation. It’s not that I don’t love it, but I’m not a big fan of the caked-up, Instagram makeup look — and it’s so difficult to find a shade that really matches my skin. This liquid foundation offered just enough coverage that my skin was smooth and blemish-free without looking overly made up. It was lightweight, buildable, and gave me the prettiest glow. And most importantly, it blended with my skin tone — I didn’t look ashy or gray. I’d definitely use this for an everyday foundation and maybe I’ll add a little bronzer when I want to go all out." — Jessica Andrews, Deputy Fashion Director
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Birthday Cake
"As someone who spent the better part of their 20s struggling with cystic acne, I’m very particular about foundation. While I think this product will work well for someone with less picky skin, it won’t be replacing my holy grail anytime soon. I found it settled into fine lines ( ugh), caked on my chin, and didn’t play well with the BB cream I use for extra coverage.
"However, I will say that the formula applied super easily with a wet Beautyblender and gave decent coverage without being too heavy. The finish on me was somewhere between matte and dewy, which is nice for day-to-day. These are all good things! Basically, I think this product would work great for someone with less oily skin (and less fine lines) who wants easy, light-medium coverage during the day." — Cait Munro, Lifestyle Editor
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Toffee
"As someone who stans the Thickstick, I immediately had high expectations for this new foundation. Point blank: It did not disappoint. I applied it with a wet makeup sponge, and it instantly blended to look like skin but still covered up my redness and post-acne marks. It has that same blending magic that I love with the stick formula. The best part is how comfortable it feels on my skin throughout the day. It’s honestly easy to forget you have anything on, especially since it doesn’t transfer after I set my T-zone with powder. Overall, I stan — again." — Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in French Toast
"I am not really sure what happened here, but this foundation wasn’t compatible with my favorite skin-care products. After applying moisturizer and primer, I tried to blend it out, but the foundation kept separating on my face, and I was left with no choice other than to wipe it off. Maybe it didn’t work well with my primer or the fact that I was still sweating post-workout? Either way, I won’t be giving up my primer or AM cardio." — Serena Kerrigan, Associate Producer & On-Air Talent
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Salted Caramel
"I have combination/acne-prone skin, so my go-to foundations are usually full-coverage matte products. Testing out this liquid foundation put me outside of my comfort zone, for sure. It provides coverage ranging from a sheer BB cream to a medium-coverage foundation if you build it up. The first day, I loved how natural it looked on my skin. If you’re more on the oily side of the spectrum, top this off with a setting powder and you’re good to go." — Alessandra Donnelly, Programming Assistant
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Butter
"I’m a big fan of Flesh’s stick foundation, so I had pretty high expectations for its first ever liquid formula. While it’s not the most life-changing foundation I’ve ever tried — I mean, it’s got some pretty stiff competition, right? — I definitely would wear it again and finish the bottle. The whipped texture feels airy and light on (which I appreciate during my sweaty subway commute), and this shade perfectly evened out my light-medium olive skin. Best of all, the coverage was sheer and buildable, just how I like it." — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty + Wellness Market Writer
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
Flesh Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation in Crème Fraiche
"For the summer, I like a foundation that makes me look dewy and glowy, but not in any way sweaty. It’s a hard balance to strike, but I think this one nails it. I applied this foundation with a brush and I kept on checking that it was actually transferring onto my skin since it comes in a shade that matches my skin tone so perfectly. Hours into my workday, I could tell it hadn’t yet completely melted off my face, which is quite the accomplishment in an office where the temperature is constantly fluctuating." – Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer
Flesh Beauty Pure Flesh Liquid Foundation, $32, available at Ulta Beauty
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Source: Refinery29 – Thatiana Diaz