I Tried E.l.f.'s New $8 Foundation—Here Are My Honest Thoughts
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Drugstore beauty is an absolute gold mine. While I do have a few high-end beauty products that I completely swear by, it's so nice to know that there are hero drugstore brands like E.l.f. out there that provide everything you'd need—from $3 brow pencils to $6 foundation. I know you might think you're imagining the above prices, but not today, my friend! E.l.f products are actually that affordable and also so good.
If you're a fan of E.l.f.'s amazing lineup, then you know today is a big day. The brand just launched its first foundation in seven years, the Soft Glam Satin Foundation, coming in at just $8. I was excited to give this one a go since it's already getting quite a bit of buzz on BeautyTok. If you're curious about my thoughts on the new formula, keep scrolling. I'm sharing them all below.
First, I'll tell you a little bit more about my skin. I have extremely sensitive, acne-prone skin, so I have to be careful about what I use on it. Once I find a foundation that provides enough coverage, is a great color match, and doesn't break me out, it takes a lot for me to stray and try a new formula. If you deal with similar skin issues, I can tell you that this one is noncomedogenic and nonirritating, so that's a huge plus.
The formula isn't too matte and isn't too dewy. It's right in between—a creamy consistency that applies and spreads easily and doesn't leave any dry patches. I will say, however, that if you also struggle with dark spots and active acne, then opinions on this one might be mixed. Like I mentioned above, I really liked that this formula applied easily, but I felt like I had to use more product than I normally would to conceal my dark spots and blemishes. You can see what I mean in the photo above. It is labeled as a medium-coverage foundation that's buildable, so that will work great for folks who like lighter coverage. If you're like me and have dark spots and active acne you'd like to conceal, you may find that you have to build it up quite a bit before achieving the level of coverage that you want.
Honestly, I don't always love using a lot of product, so I really like a formula that has more coverage and will conceal things in a swipe or two. Don't get me wrong—this formula definitely offers decent coverage, but keep that in mind if you like a lazy-girl routine that will take 10 minutes or less.
Another thing I love about this formula is that it isn't too drying. I find that some foundations can make my skin extremely dehydrated after four or more hours of wear, but this one held up pretty well. You also can't beat the $8 price tag.
Overall, this is a really nice formula, and if you're on a budget, it will really do the trick. If you do have acne and dark spots you want to cover, you'll definitely have to use a bit more product. At just $8 though, this is definitely one of my top drugstore foundations.
I've included a few more of my favorite items I used for this review below.
This primer is a favorite of mine because it's noncomedogenic and great for sensitive skin, and it creates a flawless base for makeup.
Need I say more? This viral blush duo is so gorgeous. The shade She's the Moment provides such a pretty peachy wash of color on the skin.
This brow pencil is everything. It's soft pointed and looks so natural. I use the shade Teddy, which is a bit lighter than my natural brow color, and it blends in perfectly.
I love this bronzing cream from Chanel because it gives you a natural-looking sun-kissed glow without looking too harsh.
I reach for this mascara the most because it's a great tubing formula that never smudges, flakes, or runs—even after eight-plus hours of wear.
More E.l.f. Products I Love
Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.