L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup Review, Swatches and Photos

L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup (phew!) is a liquid foundation that dries to a power-like finish. It's incredibly light and is meant to give a natural, bare skin appearance. 

Oddly, the European and US versions of this foundation have an SPF of 18 but the bottle I picked up has none. The active sunscreen ingredient in the US version, Octinoxate, is not listed in the ingredients on my bottle. There's no SPF mention on the label either, which is disappointing. Canadians need sunscreen just as much as Americans and Europeans, don't we? The sun shines here too.

The foundation comes in a rectangular glass bottle with a screw-off lid. You get 0.91 fl. oz. which is less than most foundations, which come in 1.0 fl. oz. It costs $18.99 CDN, which is more expensive than most other drugstore brand foundations, so that you get less for a higher price is a disappointment. 

The formula of the Magic Nude foundation is nearly identical to that of Giorgio Armani's Maestro Foundation, which is much more expensive ($75 CDN). It's also very similar to Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation ($64 CDN), also much more expensive. You can see my review of the Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation here. 

The shade I selected (312 Classic Ivory) was the second lightest shade available at the drugstore I bought it at. There are 12 shades available though, which is an impressive selection, especially for a drugstore brand. 

The consistency of Magic Nude is very thin and very fluid. As in, more so than any other foundation I have tried. You have to be careful when opening it because it's so thin and liquid because it moves very quickly. In the photo below, I pressed the bottle into the back of my hand and inverted it. I had to keep my hand flat and steady to keep it in place.

L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup in Classic Ivory on NW15 skintone.

The instructions are to shake the foundation well, and invert the bottle with your finger over it. Use the product on your fingertip and blend into your skin, using your fingers, and not a brush or a sponge. 

L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup in Classic Ivory on NW15 skintone.

I tried applying it both ways and I definitely got a better finish with my fingers than when I used a brush. It actually took longer with a brush, as I had to buff it and buff it to get an even finish. With my fingers it just smoothed right into and over my skin.

There isn't much scent to the Magic Nude at all, and a little goes a long way since it's so very thin. The finish once it has set on my skin has a texture very similar to powder in both feel and in appearance. While it looks powdery, it doesn't read flat. The natural glow of my skin comes through.

I typically prefer a dewier finish to my foundation, and while Magic Nude is very thin and natural-looking, I don't like the way it clings to the fine hair on my face (visible on the lower half of my cheek, close to my jawline). I didn't however need to powder it except along my T-zone. 

I found that the wear time of this is pretty average. I need to blot and powder typically by midday when I wear my usual BB cream, and it was the same for Magic Nude. As the day went on, the pink and oiliness of my T-zone increasingly came through as it typically does, though on my cheeks where my skin is less prone to oiliness, the powdery texture maintained. 

This is a great foundation for it's price and it's quality. If you like a slightly matte, but natural finish, this is a great option. Magic Nude is available where L'Oreal products are sold, though depending on your skintone, the range of shades may be limiting. 

I wish it contained an SPF as the American and European versions do. That any foundations/BB creams are sold without SPF today is seriously disappointing. That's why, despite its good qualities (cost, texture), I'm giving it a C grade. It also loses points for being a smaller size for a higher price. 

Grade: C+