Illamasqua Skin Base 6.5

Here is a quick pictorial review of the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 6.5…I ordered this from Sephora last month, sight unseen, and did my best to color match based on other swatches I found online.  After trying it out for a FOTD (found HERE), I used it again a few nights later, thinking it was indeed the right match.  Intended to mimic the skin’s natural finish and provide natural, buildable coverage, this foundation sounds like a dream come true.  However, it was a just a mediocre experience for me in the long run…

I really liked the packaging that the foundation comes in…sturdy, squeezable, with a nozzle tip to carefully dispense the product…this tube is light and trouble-free to tote in your makeup bag.  The only downside I could envision would be managing to get every last drop of the product as it nears the end.

According to everything that I read, shade 6.5 is a light-to-medium yellow based beige, however, in my experience, it is definitely more on the light, rather than medium, side and photographs even lighter (see the image at the end of this post!).  The foundation is relatively thick but blendable and, despite decent medium coverage, the finish was less skin-like than I had hoped for.  It lacks luminescence and borderlines on being a bit chalky (though it could be that this shade was just too light for me in general).

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation 6.5 swatched lightly and blended, then heavily in direct sunlight.
Skin Base 6.5 on the face…I found that this photographs considerably lighter than it look in person.  This was the chief  reason why I couldn’t keep it!

Bottom Line: I wanted to like the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation but the fact that it photographs so “white”and has a slightly chalky finish dissuaded me from keeping it…it is not earning a spot in my foundation team!

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Comments (13)

  • Anonymous Reply

    I was really close to buying this foundation, great review!
    following you, maybe check out our blog?
    smallpursebigwardrobe.blogspot.co.uk

    July 22, 2012 at 4:01 pm
  • Unknown Reply

    Great Post! Check out my blog http://www.nessa-mae.blogspot.co.uk , I post random posts, including fashion, tv, music & books etc and I ALWAYS follow back, so follow me if you like on Bloglovin and GFC :)

    July 22, 2012 at 6:01 pm
  • The Beauty Professor Reply

    Hello Smallpursebigwardrobe and Vanessa Mae…thanks for the comments and for reading Beauty Professor. I will try to check out your blogs soon.

    Have a great week,

    –The Beauty Professor

    July 23, 2012 at 4:17 am
  • Niki Reply

    i am really curious about this foundatioN! im always happy with illamasqua

    July 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm
  • The Beauty Professor Reply

    Hi Niki,

    I was really interested in this product as well and am so glad that Sephora has a reasonable return policy. Like I said, I thought the foundation was a good match (at least in person) until seeing it in pictures…not sure if it was the shade or the texture/finish or both! There are other foundations I like much more…

    Which foundation(s) are you currently loving?

    Thanks for reading!

    –The Beauty Professor

    July 23, 2012 at 10:54 pm
  • Kath TheFabZilla Reply

    I have tried this in -store and found it too thick. Does it have SPF? that could be the reason for "lighter" effect. xo

    July 26, 2012 at 5:54 am
  • The Beauty Professor Reply

    Hi Kath!

    It is definitely thick…too thick, in fact, to ever translate to looking like "real skin!" The packaging does not indicate any SPF, which is odd because that would indeed explain the unwanted white cast!

    Take care,

    –The Beauty Professor

    July 26, 2012 at 6:27 am
  • Shang J. Reply

    Aw that's a such a let down. :/

    feminine-art.blogspot.com

    July 28, 2012 at 12:19 pm
  • The Beauty Professor Reply

    I know Shang…in this case, it sounded too good to be true…at least for my skin type!!

    Regards,

    –The Beauty Professor

    July 28, 2012 at 9:20 pm
  • Anonymous Reply

    Just found your blog and it's amazing! In terms of color, which shade in Nars Sheer Glow or Chanel VA would SB 6.5 be comparable to? I'm stuck in between 6 and 6.5, but I'm worried 6.5 will turn out too yellow (like Punjab in Sheer Glow). Thank you in advance!

    October 14, 2013 at 12:13 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello!

      Thanks so much…glad you found your way here! I would say that the SB 6.5 is closest to the NARS Sheer Glow in either Fiji or Ceylon (but probably closest to Fiji).

      I hope that helps!

      xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      October 18, 2013 at 5:38 am
    • Anonymous Reply

      Thank you so much! I didn't find the foundation to be anything special. Although that was what I was expecting anyway, but it's hard to resist trying out new products on yourself. I'm sure you agree! xx

      October 30, 2013 at 10:28 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Happy to help…I completely agree that trying a foundation first hand is essential!

      xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      November 2, 2013 at 4:27 am

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