Laura has been testing the new Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm (Image: Laura Mulley)I’m not one for a full face of make-up, but I do like my skin to look its best. So, when a new foundation hits the market – particularly one promising a ‘glowy’ or ‘radiant’ finish – I’m all over it. So when I heard that Vieve – the much-loved make-up brand from influencer Jamie Genevieve – was releasing its first ever foundation, I was eager to give it a whirl. Born from the brand’s top-selling Skin Nova primer, Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm has just dropped on Space NK and vievebeauty.com, with a price tag of £34. It comes in 20 adaptable shades and offers ‘a medium-to-buildable coverage and a second-skin finish for a healthy-looking complexion’, reports the Mirror. Sounds right up my alley, I thought, and – spoiler alert – I wasn’t disappointed; it has quickly become a staple in my beauty routine. READ MORE: ‘This new foundation had me passing for 10 years younger – it’s like Flawless Filter’
Vieve has just launched its first foundation
(Image: Laura Mulley)
Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, £34 from Space NK Pros Really easy to blend Doesn’t go patchy throughout the day or sit in fine lines or pores Very buildable Gives skin a natural-looking glow The shade finder on the Vieve website is helpful and accurate Cons Not as long-lasting as a more matte formula Doesn’t cover everything; if you have very red spots or dark circles you’ll still need a concealer I have a few go-to foundations, including Shiseido Revitalessence Glow Foundation and Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint, but lately, my skin has been acting up. A series of stubborn breakouts around my chin and the introduction of a new prescription-strength retinoid have meant that foundations just haven’t been sitting right on my skin; they’ve started to look patchy after a few hours, with my pores appearing more prominent than usual. But this Vieve foundation has been a game-changer for me. It’s hydrating and creamy, but not greasy or oily – ‘buttery’ is how Jamie describes it, and she’s spot on. It blends seamlessly with either fingers or a make-up brush, and works well over primers like Skin Nova or your regular moisturiser or SPF. It gives your skin a natural, healthy glow – no sheen or shimmer, just really nice looking skin (those with oily skin may want to apply a powder over shiny areas). The coverage is more light-to-medium but it’s very buildable, and layers up well over areas that need a bit more coverage.
Laura’s skin before (left) and after (right). Laura wears shade 140
(Image: Laura Mulley)
Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, £34 from Space NK I was matched as shade 140 through Vieve’s brilliant online Findation tool and, even though I initially thought it might be too dark, it’s actually the perfect match, and I could probably even go one up if I had a tan. I’m also a fan of the packaging; it comes in a squeezy tube with a nozzle rather than a glass bottle, making it lightweight and portable. The only minor downside I found was that it does start to fade towards the end of the day (a common issue with non-matte formulas), but it’s easy to touch up. If you’re after a longer-lasting formula, I find that Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation holds up really well. If you’re on the hunt for a new foundation that effortlessly perfects your skin while still maintaining a natural look, Vieve’s Complexion Balm is definitely worth giving a go; it’s a new must-have for me. Sign up to OK!’s fashion and beauty newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for freeStory SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterMore OnMake-upBeautyShopping
