I don’t ask for much from my foundation — it has to cover my rosacea, look like skin, not cling to my dry patches or blur my pores, and bonus points if it lasts throughout the day. OK, maybe I’m a little high-maintenance, but when products like ColourPop’s Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm ($14) deliver on all fronts (and at such an affordable price), it’s hard to settle for anything less.
I recently tried the new skin-care-infused foundation stick, and it has quickly become my go-to complexion product for every day. Read on to see how it fares on my skin.
About the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm
- It delivers buildable, light-to-medium coverage.
- The formula comes in 18 flexible shades with a balanced mix of warm and cool pigments.
- It’s infused with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide.
- The stick can be used as a foundation or to spot conceal, contour, or highlight.
- It’s vegan and cruelty-free.
What I Like About the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm
How much do I love ColourPop’s Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm? Let me count the ways. For one, let’s talk about the shade range. Shade Medium 11 on my olive skin tone is quite possibly the most perfect shade match I have ever come across with a foundation. It also doesn’t oxidize and remains true to color, so my foundation always maintains a skin-like finish throughout the day without appearing patchy or uneven.
Another thing I love about the foundation balm is how blendable it is. Unlike other foundation sticks that involve pulling or tugging at the skin to blend, the balm texture allows me to use a very light hand with little to no effort. I typically prefer using a brush to apply foundation sticks, as I find a beauty sponge soaks up too much product and leaves behind streaks and separation. This formula works beautifully with a sponge and a brush, and the best part is that coverage isn’t compromised with either application method. In a pinch (or if I’m lazy), the formula also quickly melts into the skin with my fingers.
Formula-wise, the foundation balm is super creamy and feels deeply hydrating on my dry skin, especially when paired with the brand’s newly launched Pretty Fresh Set it Up Primer ($12). It never accentuates areas of my skin that are dry — rather, it gives my complexion a second-skin, blurred appearance. In terms of finish, the formula is not overly matte or dewy — it simply looks like your skin, but better. Plus, it’s laced with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to hydrate), peptides (to nourish), and niacinamide (to smooth).
How to Use the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm
Using the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm is as easy as swiping and blending according to your method of choice. My favorite way to use it is by applying the stick directly onto my face, beginning in areas needing the most coverage (the center of my face) and working my way outward. I use either a densely packed stippling brush, a beauty sponge, or my fingers to work it into my skin. No matter which tool I use, I like to push the product into the skin (versus swiping or moving in circular motions) — this gives the most natural-looking finish.
Depending on your skin tone, you can also use the darker shades to contour and the lighter shades to highlight. The sides of the stick are defined, making it easy to achieve targeted application when contouring smaller areas (like where the nose meets the inner part of the lower eyebrow).
What to Consider Before Trying the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm
One thing to note about this formula is that oily skin types may find it has too much of a slick. On my dry skin, I’m able to get a five-hour wear before it starts to appear lived-in, so the wear time on oily skin may be less.
Where Is the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm Available?
The ColourPop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm is available at ColourPop and Target.
Rating: ★★★★★
Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty and wellness contributor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is a writer and editor on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle.
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