Here’s looking at Y.O.U Beauty: New foundation and concealer alert!

Photography by Perkin Gotohio.

What was your foundation game like five or ten years ago? Or if you’ve been using makeup for longer than that, do you remember what the formulas were like when you first started? There was a time when it was all about matte, and the coverage options seemed to be either full or fuller and, dare I say, cakey. We’ve come a long way since then, and the formulas feel more... efficient. The wear is generally more comfortable, while the finish of some varieties look more skin-like than ever. Most of all, these innovations are premiering at a fast pace while becoming more affordable!

Case in point, Y.O.U Beauty, a makeup and skincare brand that first launched in Indonesia, has just released a line of base makeup called NoutriWear+ that combines skincare benefits with makeup coverage. I’m talking Immortelle C-lock Essence and Centella Asiatica Extract that can help maintain skin elasticity and soothe inflammation, respectively.

After trying their foundations and concealers out, I couldn’t help but notice how their stuff stacks up against some popular mid-range and high-end brands you may have also seen in Project Vanity.

The NoutriWear+ Velvet Liquid Foundation (P499 / 20ml) reminds me a little bit of the Charlotte Tilbury packaging with its frosted bottle and metallic detailing. It is a light-diffusing foundation that doesn’t rely on shimmer bits to achieve the softened, flattering effect. Instead, it has this dewy-looking finish that resembles the sheen of healthy skin.

Now, while one would commonly associate that type of finish with a more emollient foundation (e.g. serum foundation), Y.O.U’s take is actually closer to long-wear foundation formulas that are fully set once they dry. (Think along the lines of L’Oreal Infallible or Estee Lauder Double Wear.) One of the advantages of the Velvet Liquid Foundation is the soft matte finish that glides smoothly to your skin even without applying any moisturizer or primer. Chalk it up to the Litestay™️ technology that forms a breathable and lightweight film on the skin.

On your left: With NoutriWear+ Complete Cover Concealer and Velvet Liquid Foundation; right: NoutriWear+ Velvet Liquid Foundation used alone

When lightly set with powder, my nose and chin start to get shiny at the 2-hour mark. A blot and retouch are recommended to those shiny areas at the 3-hour mark. These are my oilier areas, but the coverage still looks satiny on the rest of my face even after 5 hours. For the record, this is not a mask-proof formula and it will streak when you sweat. A setting spray may be helpful for additional adherence to the skin.

Like any other foundation, the Velvet Liquid Foundation’s 24-hour long-wearing benefit depends on the individual’s application method, daily activities, and of course the fact that we all wear masks.

As part of our product testing with friends, we tried the foundation on friends who had dark spots on their faces. It evened out their skin tone in addition to covering the dark spots that would otherwise be visible before application. Just one layer of foundation was enough to cover the blemishes. You can build up the coverage further if desired. I believe one layer is enough for me since here in our country we have this humid climate, and less is more to avoid cakey makeup!

Those with a normal or dry skin type will benefit from this liquid foundation because it has a matte finish that’s soft but looks like a dewy finish once applied. For a desired mattified finish, lightly dust your favorite loose powder over your foundation.

From the product testing we did with friends, it is obvious that the Velvet Liquid Foundation is the perfect fit for Filipinos' sun-kissed skin tones while staying true to its claim of a full coverage finish. The product is also recommended for Normal, Dry, and Combination types of skin. And for those with Oily skin - don’t fret! Best to set it properly with your favorite loose powder or any pressed/compact powder that you have.

While the foundation is texturally on the richer and thicker side, the NoutriWear+ Complete Cover Concealer (P299 / 4.5g) is quite the opposite. Its texture is that of a light cream and the effect is brightening with moderate color correction, making it ideal for use on dark circles and redness (similar to Revlon Candid or Maybelline Age Rewind). It can be reapplied to slightly build up that brightening effect and help lightly fade dark spots, but it won’t fully cover up blemishes.

On your left: With NoutriWear+ Complete Cover Concealer; right: bare skin

Because of the lighter consistency, I recommend applying the concealer first before the foundation. They layer so much better that way as the concealer just tends to slip and slide off when applied over the foundation.

Noutriwear+ Velvet Liquid Foundation swatches from left to right: Pink Nude, Warm Ivory, Yellow Beige, Sand Beige, and Medium Beige

Now let’s talk about the shade range. The Velvet Liquid Foundation comes in five shades that mostly lean warm. The shade names can be a little confusing. For example, W703 Warm Ivory is listed as the lightest shade followed by C304 Pink Nude. On my NC-15 / NW-18 skin, Pink Nude registers lighter and still has a warm undertone despite the name and the ‘C304’ label. I personally prefer the warmth of Warm Ivory that gives my skin more of a sun-kissed look. If you aren’t sure which shade you fall under, Y.O.U sells 5ml versions for P129 to make shade-matching less of a long-term commitment.

Noutriwear+ Complete Cover Concealer swatches from left to right: Light, Medium, Rich

There are three available shades for the concealer: Light, Medium, and Rich. I feel like the sheer nature of the concealer makes the shade options flexible across more skin tones.

I like how fresh this looks on skin without the heavy feel. In terms of staying power, it needs to be set with powder so you can get 3-4 hours. Overall a nice concealer for every day!

Learn more about Y.O.U Beauty by checking out their socials on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. You can shop their lineup on Shopee and Lazada.