Review: Ecco Bella Flowercolor Foundation
I’ve been testing out this product for the last few weeks, and I have to say my skin is loving the natural ingredients in this! I was originally interested in trying this product out because I was looking for a more natural alternative to a chemical based color foundation. I have sensitive skin, so it is essential for me to use gentle skincare products. I also have a very difficult skin type; I have an oily t-zone and flaky chin and forehead.
Ingredients
Active: Titanium dioxide. Organic aloe vera gel, glycerine, isopropyl palmitate (from palm wax), saccharide isomerate (natural sugar), organic sunflower oil, TEA palmitate (from palm wax), kaolin, magnesium silicate (a natural mineral), organic extracts of chamomile, calendula, cetyl alcohol (emulsifier), lecithin, flower wax, iron oxides, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance.
The ingredients in this product were the main reason I decided to purchase this product. I am familiar with all of the ingredients and can actually pronounce them! Foundation is a something you wear everyday, over the entire surface area of your face. Your skin is your largest organ, and drinks up the ingredients in the foundations you wear. Many liquid foundations contain known carcinogens and harsh chemicals, so keep that in mind when you are shopping for your cosmetics.
UVA/UVB Protection
I’m now in my mid twenties, and I want to insure that my skin stays fresh, young, and cancer free. I also tend to break out if I apply too many products underneath my foundation, so I try to look for products that already contain UVA/UVB protection in them. Using multi-tasking products helps you save money too! Ecco Bella’s Flowercolor Foundation contains SPF 15 from the Titanium Dioxide; this is decent amount of protection for normal, everyday use. If I’m going to be outside for long periods of time, I would need to apply a higher SPF sunscreen though.
Color Selection
I’m fairly impressed with the color selection on this product. The colors tend to be more neutral, leaning a bit more towards yellow toned skin if anything. The color I selected is their lightest shade, Bisque. This is the perfect summer shade for my light skintone. I don’t know if it would be light enough for my skin in the winter months, but I could always mix in a lighter tinted moisturizer, like my Kiss My Face TM in Manilla. There are seven colors in this product line: Bisque, Ivory Porcelain, Light Beige, Natural, Linen, Tan, and Mocha. This foundation has a great range of colors from pale to the darker skin-tone range. I would recommend purchasing a shade lighter than you think you’d need.
Cruelty-free & Vegan
This foundation is 100% Cruelty-free and a vegan product, which is always a requirement for me!
Overall Impression 4.5/5
I wear Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer underneath this product, which helps prolong the wear of this foundation. On its own, it lasts a good 5 hours without touch-ups which is a fair amount of time. The finish has a natural glow to it, without making my skin look greasy. I like to apply a translucent powder of top to keep the finish more natural. It evens out my skintone, probably because of the moisturizing ingredients (glycerin and aloe vera gel). This makes it perfect for my combination skin, as I get a balance to my skin without having to apply too many products underneath, which can contribute to breakouts.
This product definitely gets points for being made of natural ingredients, and I don’t feel bad about wearing this product everyday. It is a water-based formula and doesn’t clog my pores or cause breakouts at all, I’m very pleased! If I could offer any criticism, I would suggest that Ecco Bella get rid of the original formula of this foundation, as it still contains parabens. Make sure to get the Flowercolor formula if you purchase this product. It is also a bit on the pricey side at $22.50 retail. The most affordable price for this product is on the website, vitacost.com, at $15.31. Most drugstore foundations cost this amount, so I personally think its worth spending a bit more money on, especially since it also contains SPF and moisturizes the skin, in addition to creating a more even skintone. It is a medium coverage foundation, and it is buildable without looking cakey. This is definitely a holy-grail product for me!