Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-on Cream Makeup Review

This is the first time I've used anything by Elizabeth Arden, and I have already fallen in love with the product. Bling is every girls thing, you just fall in love with the package.

The cream Foundation blends in perfectly with my color skin and my skin type.

My face feels flawless and when I apply the cream foundation on my face it stays matte the whole the day through out. I don't have to keep running to the bathroom to check up on my make up.

It blends in perfectly with my skin.

I recommend you try it out you will not regret it, it is worth every cent.

A cute gold and silver and black coloured box  directions are quite hard to read, but out with the magnifying glass and all good, just hard with the shine and colour of the box, directions are: Use a damp sponge for a lighter coverage and dry for a fuller coverage. Inside this box is a shiny gold coloured doubled layer container. Bottom layer is Black with holes on the bottom where the white sponge sits ( presumably to let the sponge breath) First layer the cream foundation with a nice mirror. Nice and attractive

I wiped the dry sponge over the foundation eek it looked way to dark, I did get my right colour. I smeared this easily over my face this glided on effortlessly, I sort of got a nice smooth rhythm going with dabbing foundation on the sponge then smearing and pushing the sponge on my face to get a even coverage and to push this creamy foundation into my skin. Coverage is medium and is quite build able, it also blended effortlessly without grabbing my skin or doing the odd exfoliating job I sometimes get. Maybe the sponge stopped the flaking of skin.

Then I used it with the sponge damp, also easy to apply it went on a little lighter. Easy pesy to use.

Ok so the hard facts when I looked at my skin this foundation worked in so it looked like it became part of my skin, not just sitting on top but blended in.

Oh it’s nice not drying or caky. I did need to do top ups (but I’m talking after a hard day’s physical work) so on that note it did survive heat and sweat. Not once did I feel sticky and It felt it quite breathable. Removal a bit of cleanser and off it came.

I’d taken to using bb creams lately as I was a bit over the heavy feeling of foundations. This is nice and light with a medium coverage that made my skin glow it made me feel like I’ve got my face on I’m back on track. Made me feel like I have nice skin and with that I felt great. I would really recommend this. As it’s easy to use blends in easily with or without a primer-looks fab with or without powder over top. And importantly it didn’t sit in my lines or age my skin it gave it a little glow. I like it very much.

I’ve trialled this foundation for almost a week through rain, shine & wind and I love it. I opted for Toasty Beige which is a tad ashy but it can’t really be helped seeing the colour range available in NZ is limited. I did however manage to make it work for me - for shade reference see the tips section below.

The beautiful packaging is very typical of the Elizabeth Arden range with the mirrored compact and gold detailing and although aesthetically pleasing, it’s plastic. You can argue that it’s quite bulky but it houses a good quality mirror and a separate compartment for the sponge with holes at the base for air.

The cream gelee-like foundation has a slight floral scent which you can’t detect on the skin. In terms of application I prefer to use the sponge, I swipe/dab gently into the product and then press it into my skin. It goes on like a cream gelee and I thought it would dry down to a powder but it remains ever so slightly tacky/wet to give a radiant looking appearance. It has buildable coverage but my preference is just to lightly go all over my face because it leaves it looking healthy and natural.

My favourite thing about the foundation (aside from the finish) is that the it doesn't break down easily which is great for me since I have oily skin. I've tried the foundation with and without finishing powder and lasts a good 8 hours without any need for a touch up.

It has a steep price but when I compare it to the other foundations I use I'm getting more product that actually looks good on the skin and better functional packaging.

I was very lucky to trial this product and very satisfied with the product. I found the consistency of the cream nice and smooth to sponge on. Easy to use, I tryed it dry and it covered my face really nice, and also tryed it with a damp sponge which was also a nice coverage. I found I didn't have to use that much to get a nice even tone on my face. It doesn't have a fragrance which is good , no nasty smell. This product for me does last all day like it states on the packaging. I like the look of the compact easy to have in your make up bag.Has a good mirror on it and a good space for the sponge to fit. I think this product will last me a bit longer than a month , I think it is definitely worth the price. I definitely noticed the results after trialing this , it's very affected compared to other products I've used. I would totally recommend this to everyone looking for a good Flawless finish cream.

I was lucky enough to be picked by BR to review this foundation on a trial team. First impressions of this were good. The packaging is beautiful and the weight of the compact makes it feel expensive. It's an easy open and shut compact and has two levels to house the product and sponge. It's gold and shiny and has the iconic Elizabeth Arden red door on the front. The product has a very creamy texture and does give really good coverage. The first time I applied it I used the sponge that comes with the product and I found it quite patchy and uneven. This speaks more to my lack of skills using a sponge than it does the product. On the subsequent applications I used a stippling brush (that I would usually use to apply liquid foundation) and got great results. I didn't need to use much product at all and got really even, full coverage. It really did improve the appearance of my skin and made this tired mum look amazing! I used a Stila primer underneath the foundation as I always use one and did my usual routine of using a translucent powder to set it. The foundation lasted all day on some quite warm days too. It resisted melting off and felt quite comfortable to wear even when it was warm. I really enjoyed using this foundation and will continue to use it. It gives such good coverage and creates the perfect base for the rest of your makeup look.

I was really excited to be chosen for this trial team as I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Arden products but I haven't tried any of their foundations before. I selected Warm Sunbeige and was pleased that it turned out to be a good match for my skin.

I love the appearance of the product, it comes in a classy gold compact with a mirror and separate compartments for the foundation and sponge. I did think the sponge was a bit thin and small though compared to other brands compacts that I have used in the past.

I was impressed that this foundation was easy to blend and provided quite an even coverage. However I felt it provided more of a medium coverage than a full coverage, while my skin appeared smoother I felt that it didn't provide as much coverage for my sun spots and pigmentation as I would like.

For $75 I probably wouldn't buy this foundation for myself unless there was a really good sale. While it did a pretty good job I felt it didn't meet all my expectations around full coverage and a radiant finish that lasts all day.

I usually use a liquid foundation, so this sponge on cream foundation was a very different experience for me. It definitely took a little getting used to with the application side of things. Lucky for me I was in Auckland the other week and ended up getting my makeup done at the Elizabeth Arden Boutique on Queen Street where they showed me how to apply this foundation. They also used their own brand primer underneath which definitely made a difference so I purchased that which made the makeup application free!

The packaging is a glamorous gold compact, which opens to a mirror and the cream foundation pan that also lifts up to reveal a thin, square sponge. It is a little bit fiddly to get the sponge out. Perhaps because of hygiene reasons, but the makeup artist used a brush and not the sponge to apply this - I came home and used the sponge included but ended up streaky and patchy so I blended it out with a beauty blender. I have since used a brush to spread it out and pat it in and it gives very nice and even coverage. A very radiant, airbrushed look.

Overall I love the coverage and feel of the makeup on my skin, but I think on its own it is a bit wet - in that it smudges easily onto my phone or jacket collars. It definitely needs to be set with a bit of powder. Once that is done it lasts for ages - even the biggest, sweatiest of concerts it’s still picture perfect at the end of the night - and that is definitely from experience! The medium - heavy coverage is great and doesn’t feel caked on. It’s sheer in product but heavy on coverage which is great for mature skin where wrinkles seem to be accentuated by heavy foundations but you need heavy to cover dark spots and uneven tone - it used to be a no win situation for me but now I’m winning with this one.

I’m not totally 100% on the colour range - I have been fake tanning lately so the colour was perfect for me now - but if I’m my regular pasty ‘au naturale’ self all the colours are too tan looking, even the lightest shade. I really like this foundation and hope they extend the colour range in the future because I will repurchase it, who knows maybe they’ll make a more ‘pasty’ colour range! I love that it doesn’t take up much room in my makeup bag and won’t spill!

Presented in a stylish signature Elizabeth Arden red door gold compact, this foundation is a fantastic addition to any makeup essentials kit. With its compact size, built in mirror and included sponge applicator, it is also perfect to pop in your purse for those on the go touch ups.

The cream formula is silky in texture, and glides on easily. Most importantly it blends beautifully to leave your skin looking natural and flawless. The colour and coverage that this foundation provided was fantastic, and really is my favourite foundation to date. It was light on my skin while still providing the level of coverage required.

I found the foundation to deliver on its promise of a flawless finish. It really evened out my skin tone, covered those problem areas, and diminished the look of fine lines. It also lasted throughout the day without diminishing or becoming cakey.

I will definitely be using this foundation again, and recommend it to everyone.

Packaging: From the photo I was expecting the compact to be metal but its plastic giving a bit of a cheap feel. For the price it seems like they could of made it metal like a sturdy re-cycle-able tin. The thick compact has a mirror and separate compartment for the applicator. The applicator is very standard you might want to use a brush or beauty blender.

some additives: It contains mineral oil/liquid paraffin this is basically a by product of petrol. It clogs pores and doesnt allow skin to breathe. Although there is some research that highly refined cosmetic grade mineral oil wont clog pores companies dont need to disclose the quality & there's evidence that something in it - 1,4-Dioxane is a carcinogen. Talc.This mineral can have asbestos contamination. Studies by the National Toxicology Panel demonstrate cosmetic-grade talc free of asbestos is a form of magnesium silicate that can be toxic and carcinogenic. Silica and Talc absorbs oil so this would help keep the foundation from being too oily. Kaolin. This is a clay which helps exfoliate skin and cleanse.

Product function: I disagree that it goes on "effortlessly" the cake was a little hard. I wet the sponge applicator to apply and this worked. I was hit by a detergent smell which i thought was the applicator but the foundation actually smells like it too. Once applied, it seems to lighten a little & look okay this must be the light reflecting thing in the description working. I am very fair and I got warm sun beige. At first seems orange but looked more yellow when all over my face. It depends on the lighting I guess. After about 4 or 5 hours I noticed my skin had absorbed a lot of the make up so I would not say this is long lasting although I did not use primer. It will apply fairly easy with a wet applicator and it is creamy but does not have an amazing silky feeling like conditioner or silicone based primers. The next time I wore it with a lighter foundation over the top to balance the fact it is too dark for me using the Elizabeth Arden like a contouring base and a light other branded foundation on other areas. It lasted very well in the light rain for several hours. But afterwards looked bad you could tell I was wearing foundation and it looked all the same shade like the darker foundation which could of been oxidization or the darker Elizabeth Arden one dominating the lighter foundation. I could see it sitting in my pores. I didnt see a huge change in diminishing the look of aging but it has a little smoothing effect & gave a healthy glow as described. Although it sates that this is ideal for medium to dry skin its not very hydrating. I suggest trying with a primer and moisturizer.

Verdict. Not something I would spend $75.00 on. I have seen them cheaper on trade me. The diamond powder addition gives this a nice high end luxury feel.

Since I am currently just over the mid-40s, this foundation has really stood out head and shoulders above my normal foundation. I have pretty dry skin and are now showing quite a few age spots (that drives me insane).

I picked the lightest shade and this is a perfect match. This foundation applied smoothly with the supplied application sponge, does not highlight wrinkles or pores, and provides great coverage. I would prefer to use this during the winter months because of my very dry skin during colder months, during warmer seasons, I prefer to rather just use BB creams and tend to only use creme foundations at special occasions.

Admittedly, some concealer might be needed for dark spots. As for the lasting power of 12-hours as it claims - I've had it on early morning till about 9 pm and only had to do about 2-3 powder touch-ups, during the day (midday and after work).

I found that this foundation was fine for dry skin, doesn't smell. It looked pretty expensive with the gold packaging and it was easy to open and the nice gold case matched nicely. Unfortunately, I feel that the outer packing is a waste.

I used the supplied sponge and it does go on quite thick I found that I just had to dab, or tap it onto the areas I wanted to cover then blend it out – I suggest using a beauty blender to really blend it out along my nose & forehead area. I found that I could layer up more if needed.

I found that it did not cause any irritation or dried out my skin out, but have found that moisturising well is a must before using the product. I believe that the product will travel easy with no spills and great for the no liquid allowance for international travel. Love the compact look – the gold not so much.

Overall, I have to say this was one of my favourite foundations but don’t think it is totally worth investing the money for and exceeds my budget ($75), however, it is a nice to have.