Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation: Worth The Hype?

I love drugstore foundations.  Every once in a while, though, I have an urge to try out a higher end foundation just to see if it's really that much better than my favorite drugstore picks.  I recently got a sample of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation at Macy's (I definitely recommend getting a sample of a high-end foundation before you invest the money to see if it's worth it).  At $38, this is a pricey foundation known for its full coverage yet natural finish.  It has a selection of 30 shades broken down into warm, cool, and neutral undertones.  The color I got matched to is 3N1 Ivory Beige, and it is a perfect match for my current summer tan.

This foundation is pretty hyped up on YouTube, so part of me wanted to love it, while the other part of me (the budget-conscious part of me) did not want to love it.  Read on to see which side won.

I tried this two ways: with a brush and with a beauty blender.  For brush application, I dabbed the foundation all over my face and blended it in with my favorite foundation brush, the Sigma F80.  I buffed it in using circular motions all over my face.  Where I needed more coverage, I stippled it in with my brush first before lightly buffing it in.  I would say it lives up to its claims coverage-wise; it is very full coverage.  It made my skin look very porcelain-like and flawless.  This is way more coverage than I like or need on a day to day basis, but it really does look beautiful and satin-like (not too matte or too luminous).  It's not cakey, yet it is very evident that you have makeup on with this stuff.  The foundation still felt slightly tacky after a couple hours of wear, which I really didn't like.  It also felt VERY heavy, which I think is the worst part about it.  I've read many reviews attesting to the "lightweight feel" of this foundation, and unfortunately, I have to disagree.  It felt very plastered on and uncomfortable.

The second day, I tried applying it with a damp Real Techniques sponge to see that would make it look any more natural.  I honestly didn't notice any big difference, and it still made me look like I was wearing a ton of face makeup (again, not cakey, just very made up).  I also wanted to try setting it with a powder, so I lightly dusted on some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (I am in the color Medium Golden).  I found that using a little bit of powder took away the annoying lingering tackiness I experienced the day before.  I think it held up well all day both with and without powder.

This foundation actually reminds me a lot of Revlon ColorStay, which I wore on my wedding day.  Just like Double Wear, Revlon ColorStay is a full coverage foundation with a beautiful finish (for reference, I think my shade was 320 True Beige.  I used the one for normal/dry skin because my skin was more dry at that time.  I also remember it having the same heavy feel as Double Wear; as a result, I pretty much stopped wearing it after my wedding day.  I think the biggest difference between the two (other than the price) is that Revlon ColorStay dried very quickly and didn't have the lingering tacky feel without having to be set with powder.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Ivory Beige applied with a Real Techniques sponge and lightly set with powder

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Ivory Beige applied with a brush and no powder

Shot from my wedding day wearing Revlon ColorStay for Normal to Dry Skin in True Beige

So, is this foundation worth the hype?  My answer is no.  I think it leaves a beautiful finish, and I love that for as full coverage as it is, it's  not cakey.  It's just way too much coverage for my liking on a day to day basis, and I hate the heavy feel.  I would only wear this foundation for special occasions, so to me, it's not worth paying $38 for something I wouldn't wear all the time.  I think this foundation would be suitable for all skin types, but if you're oily, you'll definitely want to set it with powder and carry some oil blotting sheets for touch-ups throughout the day.  If you like full coverage every day, or if you're looking for a foundation for a wedding or special event that photographs well and lasts all day, I would recommend getting a sample and trying it out.  If you want full coverage every day but are looking for a more budget-friendly option, I would recommend Revlon ColorStay.  I think it's worth mentioning that the Double Wear doesn't come with a pump; it's a bummer that for how expensive it is, it doesn't have one.  I have heard, however, that you can buy this foundation pump from MAC and cut the straw to size.  Since Estee Lauder owns MAC, it makes sense that the pump would fit.  It's another $10 that you'd be spending on top of an already pricey foundation, but you could re-use the same pump if you continued to purchase the foundation.

I would love to hear your thoughts if you've tried this foundation or if you know of a way to make it feel less heavy.  Thanks for reading!