My love affair with the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation has been going on for years, and honestly, I can’t believe I haven’t written a full review sooner. This is one of those products I fall into a long-term relationship with, leave for something shiny and new, and then inevitably find my way back to like an ex I should never have doubted in the first place. I’ll use up a full bottle, wander off to try something different, and then—boom—I’m repurchasing it again because nothing else quite hits the same. So today felt like the perfect moment to finally sit down and give this foundation the proper spotlight it deserves.
Why I First Bought This Foundation
Like many beauty lovers, my first introduction to this foundation came through YouTube royalty. Jaclyn Hill was raving about it, and back in those days, if Jaclyn told me a product was life-changing, I would practically sprint to the checkout. I bought my first bottle purely because she used it, finished it, loved it, and then got distracted by other new launches. It wasn’t until the big Born This Way revival in 2020 that I picked it up again—and I fell completely back in love. Since then, I’ve repurchased multiple times, and honestly, I regret every year I spent without it.
How It Applies
When it comes to foundation, I am shamelessly fussy. I want full coverage, but I don’t want anything that tugs, drags, or settles weirdly on the skin. Premature ageing isn’t on my to-do list. The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation strikes that perfect balance by offering medium-to-full coverage without ever feeling heavy. It glides across the skin so smoothly that blending feels effortless. Once buffed in, it gives my complexion a truly flawless finish, and it works consistently every time—whether I’m applying it at 6 a.m. before work or taking my time on a weekend.
The Finish on the Skin
Finish is everything for me, and this foundation fits into a rare sweet spot. I have an oily complexion, so matte foundations can make me look flat and dehydrated, but overly luminous formulas can make me look like I’ve dipped my face in oil. Satin finishes don’t always sit well on my skin either. The Born This Way Foundation is beautifully adaptable: I can make it appear more natural, more matte, or more radiant depending on the products I pair it with. It’s essentially a “your-skin-but-better” foundation on my good days, and a full glam base on my bad days.
How Long It Lasts
Longevity is non-negotiable for me. I need my foundation to last from early morning until I get home late in the evening, and this one does a great job. I won’t pretend it’s the most bulletproof foundation in my collection, because it does have more slip than some matte long-wear formulas. However, as long as I set it well with my Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, it stays in place all day without separating, fading, or turning patchy. For a medium-to-full coverage foundation with a natural finish, the wear time is impressive.
The Shade Range
When I first tried this foundation years ago, the shade range was… fine. Not terrible, but certainly not what we should expect from a major brand. Over time, Too Faced massively expanded the range and even collaborated with Jackie Aina to develop deeper shades and correct undertone gaps. Now, the spectrum is inclusive and well thought out. As someone with a medium-tan complexion, I’ve never struggled to find a match, but I appreciate that the range now works for a far broader variety of people. If I were still freelancing, this is absolutely the type of foundation I would keep in my pro kit.
Final Thoughts
Writing this review reminded me why this foundation always works its way back into my routine. It applies beautifully, blends seamlessly, and makes my skin look like the polished, perfected version of itself that I wish it naturally was. The longevity is reliable, the finish is adaptable, and the shade range is now genuinely inclusive. At the moment, it’s the only foundation I’m reaching for on a daily basis, and that alone speaks volumes.
If you’ve tried the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, I would love to hear what you thought of it. And if you haven’t yet, consider this your sign—it just might be the next staple in your makeup collection.
