Foundation fans are in for a treat come September with the launch of several new products from Japanese brand, Sensai. It’s no surprise really that the new line-up takes a layering approach – Sensai are all about the rituals of beauty with formulas that are built for comfort and tactile pleasure. Glowing Base is where it all starts with this light-bringing routine, built with light reflective pigments in a moisturising, skin freshening base.
The two new Foundations are Luminous Sheer Foundation and Flawless Satin Base. Personally, I preferred the Luminous Sheer especially as it’s summer and I don’t want anything weighty on my skin. However, this is a September launch and I think at that time of year I might more naturally reach for the Flawless Satin Base. I’ve had both on my face (one on either side) all day and the claim from the brand that you cannot feel it there is absolutely true. I often wonder why Sensai isn’t more generous with SPF but as a Japanese brand I think it’s made for women who avoid the sun as it is, or boost up with SPF sprays as standard throughout the day. It is something to consider for the UK consumer.
Despite my natural dislike of powders, I didn’t mind the Translucent Face Powder with it’s gorgeously soft puff for applying. I’d only use it though if I needed some proper mattifying and I prefer a dewy finish. Both foundation formulas use particular light scattering powders within the formula shaped for maximum reflection and diffusing.
So, I’ve caught them in the light: Glowing Base is first followed by Luminous Sheer and then Flawless Satin. They’re both nicely fluid, flowy and moist in texture. I could swear that Luminous Sheer made my skin feel cooler but there is no claim of that. The final item in the swatch is the Supreme Illuminator which is my favourite product, despite the fact that I’m not that into strobing or anything similar.
This is a truly grown up glow – I used a loose foundation brush (Clinique) to apply to my cheek bones and it gives a wash of light rather than a super sparkle. It’s quite light in base colour but the texture allows for it to be worked around the complexion so that you get a neutral toned diffusion. You only need a tiny amount (good job at £39) to give a ‘light lift’ to your skin. Actually, I should mention that if you are an even shyer strober than me, you can use it under foundation for a lower light level that still powers through as long as you’re not putting a very heavy foundation over the top.
So, all in all, new foundations built for comfort and lightfulness that have enough moisture to them to be friendly to older complexions, but not so much that they give you an oily skin feel. They’re so much about the minutae of skin finishing you have to love that level of detail and layering for the perfect canvas. I know that lots of you do so its well worth checking out the new selection when it launches into Harrods in September. Foundations are £42 and Glowing Base is £39.
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